Why do companies throw away fresh food instead of giving it to the hungry?

A recent Tik Tok clip went viral when a Starbucks staffer complained about the amount of fresh food her employer tosses.

The video starts off by showing a clip from another creator’s experience, where they revealed that the food items displayed – including breakfast sandwiches, cookies, and muffins – are real. Since these items weren’t fake props, the chain threw away edible food every day.

Depending on the location, prepared food is discarded after a certain amount of time – this could vary from every few weeks to every day, as shown in the video.

Following the stitch, Chloe (@chloeluvs420) shows viewers a picture she took in the kitchen of the Target Starbucks location she worked in 2020. There are dozens of individually wrapped food items, from croissants to wraps, laid out on the table.

… And she was told to discard it (food that was still safe to eat).

“Starbucks is incredibly wasteful,” Chloe said.

@chloeluvs420 #stitch with @kaitlinsondae #greenscreen ♬ original sound – chloe

Chloe stated in her video caption that she used to frequently quarrel with her manager over the considerable amount of waste generated by their location.

So, if they’re not going to donate it to the poor they could at least give it to the hard-working staff, right?

Wrong – “I have heard about SO MANY baristas losing their job for taking home food waste,” a commenter added.

I’ve seen something similar at 7-Eleven where all this fresh meat is literally tossed into a crash tan. Probably well over $150 worth.

So, why can’t companies donate their unsold fresh food to the poor?

Answers…

1. Liability is always a potential worry for companies when donating food. Fortunately, there are laws and regulations designed to protect companies from any legal or financial consequences if someone were to be harmed by consuming it. Still, some organizations may perceive a certain amount of risk associated with it.
   
   
2. Logistics play a vital role in the process of donating food; it requires significant investment in terms of time, manpower, and transportation facilities. Distributing food to those in need is not always easy for companies lacking the necessary infrastructure. Moreover, donating food that has a short shelf-life can be tricky, as it requires additional resources to keep it safe and fresh.
   
   
3. While some may think of it as a financial drain, donating food is an effective way to give back to the community. There is an understandable concern about the effect it can have on a company’s finances. For instance, how many people who could afford to purchase the food would try to take advantage of the situation to get free, expensive food daily?
   
   
4. As far as giving unused food to employees, some restaurants may not want to set a precedent for giving away free food, as it could lead to employees expecting it and feeling entitled to it. You could also have situations where employees fight about who gets what. Additionally, it could create a financial burden for the restaurant if that perk becomes financially unsustainable.
   
   But, some grocery stores offer employee discounts or free samples of unused food. However, these offerings are typically limited and may be subject to certain restrictions to ensure that the food is consumed safely and responsibly.

Some good news

The above stated, there are plenty of companies and organizations out there that make concerted efforts to donate leftover food to those less fortunate. Some of these organizations partner with food banks and other charities to ensure that food is distributed safely and efficiently. Additionally, some governments have implemented policies and incentives to encourage companies to donate excess food, rather than throw it away.

In fact, in 2016 Starbucks committed to donating all unsold food that was still edible from its 7,600 U.S. stores. This act of generosity would help provide nutritious meals to those in need and also reduces food waste. Even though the chain initially aimed to have all its locations participating in the donation program and reach a 100% rate by 2021, only 60% of them had done so by 2020 according to the New York Post.

 USA Today reported that they continue to work on reaching their goal by next year.