A US-STYLE ‘Good Samaritan’ law could persuade supermarkets to hand out food past its sell-by date to vulnerable people, an Oxford charity claims.

Re-plenish, which runs the Oxford Food Bank, said it would be campaigning for the law, which would absolve companies from liability if someone falls ill.

It said supermarkets might need the reassurance of legal protection before signing up to the project, which aims to distribute food to community groups and charities around the city.

Spokesman Robin Aitken confirmed the charity, launched on Wednesday and based in Lamarsh Road, was assessing how best to lobby Government for a change in law.

He said: “It is an important campaigning objective for us to persuade Parliament to introduce this type of law.

“It would derogate retailers from some of the food safety regulations if they donate food to charity. This is vital to us.

“The legislation in the US has been a great success, which we want to copy here.

“However, this is a long-term aim, and not something that is going to happen overnight.”

The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act in America protects grocery stores, food companies and individuals from liability if food donated to a shelter or organisation for the poor makes people ill.

These laws only apply when the donor acts in good faith and does not donate foods that are known to be past their use-by date – as opposed to its sell-by date – damaged or contaminated.

It was made law in 1996 and is named after senator Bill Emerson, who encouraged the proposal but died before it was passed.

Mr Aitken, a former BBC journalist, added: “We want as many supermarkets as possible in the city to get involved with the food bank.

“Certain laws may act as a deterrent to some supermarkets when they consider whether to hand out food, and we want to try to remove any obstacles we can.

“Re-plenish has two aims. Firstly, to spread the word and encourage the growth of food banks, and secondly to act as a campaigning and lobbying group to get changes in the law that will make it easier for food banks to operate.”

Charities, shelters and community centres around Oxford currently have boxes of produce delivered to their doors donated by the Sainsbury’s and Co-op supermarkets in Kidlington.

The Oxford Food Bank distributes food which is past its sell-by date, but within its use-by date, through its 30 volunteers.

Fruit, vegetables and baked items are already being delivered, and meat and dairy products will be added when the charity installs its new fridges.

Mental health centre the Mill, in Cowley Road, Lucy Faithfull House and Oxford Soup Kitchen are among the groups already benefiting.

The charity hopes it will soon be providing up to 5,000 meals a week.