Minnesota2026Passed Legislature
HF3579
Rules for Donating Past-Date Eggs
Last scannedAug 22, 2026, 3:39 AM
In one sentence
This law allows retailers to donate eggs that are past their quality assurance date to charitable food assistance programs if specific safety and labeling rules are followed.
What it does
- Defines 'quality assurance date' as the day a manufacturer decides a product may lose taste or nutrition due to natural changes like spoilage.
- Allows Grade AA and Grade A eggs that have lost their grade status to be donated instead of thrown away if they meet safety rules.
- Requires donated eggs to stay in their original packaging with new labels showing the program name, a distribution date, and a 'Not for Resale' statement.
- Mandates that all donated eggs must remain continuously refrigerated during storage and transport.
- Limits donation so eggs are given to consumers within 30 days of passing their quality assurance date.
Who it affects
- Retailers who sell or store eggs in Minnesota
- Charitable food assistance programs that receive egg donations
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not state when it officially takes effect.
- Donated eggs cannot be sold again; they must only go to consumers through food programs.
- Eggs that do not meet all five safety and labeling conditions cannot be donated under this rule.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Quality assurance date
- The date after which a manufacturer decides the product might lose taste, nutrition, or freshness due to natural causes.
- Candled and graded
- Eggs that have been checked for quality using light (candling) and sorted into categories like Grade AA or A.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
Eggs allowed to be donated past their quality assurance date.
Official activity
Bill history
- See Senate file in House SF3891House
- Author added ZeleznikarHouse
- Bills identical, SF substituted on General RegisterHouse
- Referred to Chief Clerk for comparison with SF3891House
- Author added Kotyza-WitthuhnHouse
- Committee report, to adoptHouse
- Authors added Smith and RepinskiHouse
- Introduction and first reading, referred to Agriculture Finance and PolicyHouse