France To Force Stores To Give Unsold Food To Charity

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WhatInThe

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France to force supermarkets to give unsold but edible food to charity.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ermarkets-to-give-away-unsold-food-to-charity

Not a bad idea but it has issues including government mandates but it's France.

I must admit I'm stunned at the amount of food that hits the dumpster yet supermarkets are actually allowed to sell food past it's "sell by date". At least mark it down to a lower price. Around here one of the supermarkets marks down time sensitive food after 7 PM. So by nine-ten o clock you can get things like 1/2 price donuts. I mention donuts because there is a convenience store that dumps trays of donuts and premade sandwiches/prepared food in the trash can without compunction. If people know at a certain time they can get a deal not only will it bring them into the store they'll start buying other things which I have.
 

I was watching an episode of Extreme Cheapskates once. A lady in New York was getting foot out of the trash from some deli. While, yes it's kind ofgross, I too was appalled at the food that gets thrown away. I've become much more conscious of it myself and watch that I don't buy anything I won't use.

There sure is a lot of waste.
 
We have an organization here called Second Harvest, a food rescue organization where excess food and leftover food from an event or gala type do or party, gets picked up and redistributed to the needy or homeless.

http://www.secondharvest.ca/donate
 

I think it's a good idea not to waste food and give it to charity. I know that supermarkets in the US will throw old produce, etc. out and write it off as a 'loss', rather than even sell it at a discounted price to the customers. If food banks and charities can benefit from unused food that is still edible, why not?
 
We haveSecond harvest & other food reclaiming organizations here, but I don't think they get everything thing that might be available.
 
I also knew someone who worked in a large hospital kitchen. They threw out a lot of food he said. It could have gone to the shelter or something but apparently there is a "liability" issue he said.
 
WhatInThe said:
France to force supermarkets to give unsold but edible food to charity.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ermarkets-to-give-away-unsold-food-to-charity




Not a bad idea but it has issues including government mandates but it's France.

I must admit I'm stunned at the amount of food that hits the dumpster yet supermarkets are actually allowed to sell food past it's "sell by date". At least mark it down to a lower price. Around here one of the supermarkets marks down time sensitive food after 7 PM. So by nine-ten o clock you can get things like 1/2 price donuts. I mention donuts because there is a convenience store that dumps trays of donuts and premade sandwiches/prepared food in the trash can without compunction. If people know at a certain time they can get a deal not only will it bring them into the store they'll start buying other things which I have.
Click to expand...

I know there are regulations here in the US about this, but I think we could do better by following France's example.
 
As soon as the government gets involved you're going to create a whole new batch of problems.

Better if the supermarket / etc. would voluntarily donate to shelters - cut out the middle man.
 
SeaBreeze said:
I think it's a good idea not to waste food and give it to charity. I know that supermarkets in the US will throw old produce, etc. out and write it off as a 'loss', rather than even sell it at a discounted price to the customers. If food banks and charities can benefit from unused food that is still edible, why not?
Click to expand...

If something is donated to charity, wouldn't it still be a tax write off? Its really depressing how much food is wasted, that is still perfectly edible and could be used by the poor.
 
Alot of junk food like snack cakes and even some breads past the sell by date are picked up by pig farmers for their animals. I've heard donating food past sell by dates to food banks and shelters is not allowed due potential health risks and possible lawsuits resulting from illness. It is a shame so much food is wasted.
 

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