Feb 20, 2025

New Law Combating Food Insecurity in Israel

Through Federation’s sustained support, Leket Israel is having a greater impact on combating food insecurity following the Knesset’s recent passage of a new law requiring surplus food redistribution. The amendment to Israel's 2018 Food Rescue Act — created in response to Leket’s advocacy — mandates that all government-owned companies, offices and local authorities donate their extra food to nonprofits for distribution to hungry Israelis. With roots dating back to 2003, Leket is the nation’s largest food and distribution network. Since October 7, the organization has redoubled its efforts to help Israelis in need. In 2024 alone, it recruited and coordinated more than 41,000 volunteers to help struggling farms; increased its soup kitchen distribution by 132 percent; and rescued and redistributed 44 million pounds of nutritious food to locations across Israel. Leket also established a mobile produce distribution truck that travels to locations in Israel’s periphery to provide locals with 8,820 pounds of produce weekly.