LIVE: Donation pipelines opening at over 2 meals/sec
THE LAZARUS LAWS:
A shared best-practice standard to open food-donation pipelines.
The world produces more than enough food to feed everyone — yet outdated laws and varied standards make it easier to discard food than donate. Let's turn food waste into food relief.
1.16
B
tons of food wasted / yr
UNEP, Food Waste Index Report 2024
733
MM
People hungry
FAO, SOFI Report 2024. UNICEF DATA
20
%
food safe yet discarded
Harvard FLPC/NRDC. Harvard Law School
The 5 Lazarus model laws offer a shared best-practice standard to help protect donors, reduce barriers, and open local and international food-donation pipelines.
Donald Trump, President of the United States
President Donald Trump has been invited to learn more about the Lazarus Council’s mission and explore ways to support its work.
Invited people:
| Invited | Supports | Donates |
|---|---|---|
| President Donald Trump | Invited |
Supporters
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THE LAZARUS LAWS:
Lazarus Council is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing hunger and strengthening long-term food security by eliminating legal and logistical barriers to food donation. We advocate for legislative reform that enables the efficient, safe, and responsible redistribution of surplus food to those who need it most.
The Problem
Hunger is caused more by legal barriers than scarcity.
Each year, billions of pounds of safe, edible food are discarded—not because of a lack of supply, but because outdated laws, liability fears, and regulatory barriers make donation harder than disposal. These systemic obstacles break the link between surplus food and people who need it most.
THE BARRIERS ARE LEGAL — AND FIXABLE
These barriers are not inevitable. Clear, practical legal reforms can remove liability fears, streamline cross-border food donation, and make it easier to share surplus food safely and at scale. When laws are designed to enable generosity, food moves where it’s needed instead of being wasted.
Explore the Laws
The Solution
Lazarus Laws at a glance
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No Import / Export Fees
Donated food is exempt from customs duties and trade taxes.
Streamlined Border Access
Canned, frozen, or cooked donations cross borders without unnecessary delays.
Liability Protection
Good-faith donors are legally protected (Good Samaritan model).
Standardized Labeling
Clear “sell by / best before / safe to consume by” framework reduces waste.
Gold Standard
Voluntary recognition for advanced adoption and implementation.
Benefits
Immediate Relief
A more efficient system will unlock continuous donation pipelines, rapidly delivering safe, edible food to those who need it most—especially during crises.
Long-Term Change
Policy reform creates enduring systems to support food security globally.
Global Support is Forming
Governments, nonprofits, and policymakers are showing support for Lazarus model laws and shared food-donation best practices.
Join The Public Record of Support
Publicly Supported By
Governments and NGOs are adding support for Lazarus model laws
Backed by Leading Food-Rescue Organizations
How 5 simple laws unlock food at scale
Get involved
Join us in opening pipelines that turn surplus food into relief and strengthen long-term food security
Legislative Partners
Legislative Partners
Learn more about what we're proposing.
Policy Advisors & Legal Experts
Policy Advisors & Legal Experts
Join the Legislative Network.
Sponsors & Donors
Sponsors & Donors
Fund outreach, advocacy, and pilots.
