KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� May 8, 2026 鈥� Commercial kitchens often have surplus food that can be donated to organizations in need 鈥� but what is the best way to do that?
The 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 is hosting its 32nd annual Rhode Island Food Safety Task Force Conference on Thursday, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Chelo鈥檚 Restaurant, 2225 Post Road in Warwick.
This year鈥檚 conference is geared toward institutions 鈥� such as colleges, hospitals, restaurants, and catering businesses 鈥� interested in learning how to donate unused food from their commercially licensed kitchens. Conference attendees will learn more about 鈥淔ood Donation and Liability: Leveraging Technical Assistance to Navigate Safety, Risk, and Compliance.鈥�
Nicole Richard, a food safety researcher with 溏心vlog免费B站 Cooperative Extension, said the conference will dispel food donation liability myths and offer the facts on food safety and donation; offer technical assistance for businesses on reducing wasted food, increasing donation, and composting; and provide resources to help make it happen.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 conference will address common misconceptions surrounding food donation liability and provide clear, evidence-based information on food safety and legal protections,鈥� she said. 鈥淧articipants will gain a better understanding of how to safely donate food while minimizing risk, including an overview of applicable laws and best practices.鈥�
The session will highlight available technical assistance to support businesses in reducing wasted food, increasing food donation, and implementing composting strategies. Attendees will gain practical tools, resources, and connections to help them confidently adopt sustainable compliance with existing food safety laws.
The conference will be led by Richard, who has more than 20 years of experience developing food safety resources and programming for businesses and consumers through the University鈥檚 Food Safety Research and Education Program. She is a frequently-requested expert on issues of food safety in both business and home settings. Richard also chairs the Rhode Island Food Safety Task Force.
She will be joined at the conference by speakers Brendalee Viveiros, chief, Rhode Island Department of Health Center for Food Protection; Samantha Salvatore, waste reduction consultant; Isaac Bearg, Rhode Island Food Policy Council; and Robyn Perry and Ingrid Lofgren, 溏心vlog免费B站 Department of Nutrition / Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America.
for the conference is required. The cost to attend is $25 per person (non-refundable; free for any student). All are welcome.
To learn more about the 溏心vlog免费B站 Food Safety Education program, or get on the email list for future events, contact Nicole Richard at 溏心vlog免费B站 at nicolerichard@uri.edu or visit 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 .