More Than Eggs: A Bipartisan Solution to Feed More Minnesota Families

ICA hosted a press conference on August 13, 2026 celebrating a bipartisan solution to feed more Minnesota families and reduce food waste. In partnership with Second Harvest Heartland, the Minnesota Grocers Association, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, state legislators, and hunger-relief partners, ICA highlighted a new state law that allows retailers to donate eggs past their sell-by date when they’re still safe to eat.  Retailers are now allowed to distribute the eggs up to 30 days past their quality assurance date when the eggs continue to meet safety standards.

Eggs are one of the most requested and popular items at ICA. “At a time when 1 in 5 Minnesota households do not have enough to eat, this new egg donation law will help us get more food where it’s needed,” Second Harvest Heartland stated in a press release. More than 100 food shelves, nonprofits, and other organizations supported the legislation, and lawmakers passed it with unanimous bipartisan support.

For hunger relief partners, this Shell Egg Law (SF3891) is about more than eggs. It is about dignity, access to nutritious choices, and a more sustainable way to reduce food waste.

As families continue to face high grocery costs and difficult budget stretches, this new law gives food shelves another tool to meet rising need. Together, we can help move more food from store shelves to family tables—and build a healthier, more stable community where every neighbor has the nourishment they need.