to expect people not to give ridiculous items to food bank...

[MariaAngustias]

I volunteer at a food bank. Everything is weighed in then weighed out for audit purposes. Whilst there are many lovely and generous people who donate to use there are some people who give such odd and weird things - out of date food, opened packets, packs of hair dye (yep, few of these at moment), medication ... and obviously this stuff cannot be given out but it has to be sorted, weighed and then disposed of. Why?!

[EssentialHummus]

hairy at ours that’s the case for past Use By (need for certification) but not Best Before. We can distribute the latter as is. It’s not related to food safety, but quality, whereas say expired chicken we’d definitely need some clarification from the supplier before we distribute it.

[Chichiboo]

I used to work for a charity shop and dog shit on shoes and period pants were regular donations

[ElephantsNest]

I set up a monthly direct debit to my local food bank on the first lockdown. It makes my donation go further because it cuts out the supermarket’s retail mark up. The food bank staff can use the money to buy the kinds of foods their clients most need at wholesale prices, so I am not trying to guess what they need the most at any given point.

[Thewinterofdiscontent]

@HeartsAndClubs

I’d be surprised if they’re allowed to give out out of date food.

Supermarkets have very strict guidelines re out of date food, so if someone were to take some at a food bank and fall ill who would be liable?

Well a food bank isn’t going to give items that are part of its role out of date

It’s different if it’s there extra for people to take knowing it’s out of date. Our local free shop gives away supermarket out of date food and the local pub makes meals out if some of it.
There’s no meat or high risk food. Veg and bread are fine.

[ElephantsNest]

If I have food I can’t eat, partially opened packs of nappies etc, I either give them to a friend or leave them in a box by my front gate with a Free Please Take sign.

[SchrodingersUnicorn]

Some of the BBE dates of stuff that gets donated are awful though - I've had to go through donations and throw out tins that are anything up to 10 years out of date on a regular basis.

[Notnownotneverever]

I don't know exactly how the collection process works but could you not put out the hair dye for people to just take if they liked the look of it. It could be exactly what they want. Of course, it isn't practical for you to go looking for colours, etc but to have it there to help yourself to would be ok wouldn't it?

Out of date food and opened packets is just rude and insulting. People just don't think.

[Bananaman123]

our food bank takes toiletries, not sure about hair dye but i think that woukd be something people may want. Can you partner with shelter or a beauty bank so it doesnt go to waste?

[Mothership4two]

Have spent many an hour over the years checking through primary school donations for fetes, tombolas, etc. for out of date stuff and always got quite a trawl that had to be ditched

[Bunnyfuller]

Out of date is mainly a marketing tool. Best before is 100% marketing. Trust me, your 5 year old revolting spaghetti hoops will be fine pretty much forever as there’s nothing natural left

[Lovemusic33]

I don’t see the issue with hair dye, if I was totally skint I would be pretty pleased to pick up a hair dye from the food bank, I hate when my grey hairs starts taking over and I’m not too fussy what colour I dye it as long as the grey is covered 🤣

[Gingernaut]

I worked for an absolute narcissist, who paid lip service to charitable events.

When a local food bank put out an appeal for collection, she offered to host one of the boxes in our department.

We were not surprised to learn she'd donated the remnants of a variety of packets from different, very low calorie diets.

Just that, individual sachets from larger packs of soup, shakes and ready meals.

We were mortified.

We were also left with a box to fill every week for the collection, which she never bothered with again.

[winniestone37]

My Mum is elderly and genuinely thought it was fine to give an open pack of biscuits. She’s not stupid just from a different time. It must be frustrating for you but it might be one of those times where you suspend your judgement.

[Embroideredstars]

@PattyPan

I can see where you are coming from and voted yanbu but for example I have two open packs of sanitary towels (individually wrapped inside) which I won’t use but don’t want to just bin. They could come in useful for someone but I don’t think they would be acceptable as a donation because the packet is open so I’m not really sure what to do with them. My local women’s refuge only has info about donating money rather than items so don’t think that is an option.

At my work we have a basket of bits like this people can help themselves to if run short.

[Lalliella]

@skirk64

People probably think that out of date food is fine to give because best before dates are just that, food is still safe to use afterwards but might not be at its peak.

Also hair dye seems no more inappropriate than giving sanitary towels or shampoo. Or do food banks strictly take food only? (Genuinely don't know, I don't give to them because I don't agree that people should have to rely on them.)

You do realise that not giving to food banks because you don’t agree people have to rely on them won’t make the problem go away don’t you?

[TinselTinsel]

I don't see the issue with hair dye. If I was in a bad spot and needed to use a food bank then I sure as hell wouldn't be able to afford hair dye and I'd be glad of it!

[DreamingofDalyan]

As someone who works with the unemployed these are a few of the things that madden me. I should say firstly that I have nothing against genuine need and I can usually weed out the ones that are taking the pass just like the ones who have no interest of ever working.
I get annoyed at the ones who think that the food bank is an added perk of benefits and have said free groceries excellent.
I have had someone bring their foodbank donation in and dump on my desk to say how shit the quality was and to suggest what meals they could make.
I ve had people who sign up with different names and drive around a few picking up groceries like a big Christmas shop.
I had one man complain that he didn't get enough dog food and he had 5 dogs. Also wanted a donation to pay his vets bill. Dont think he took kindly to me telling him perhaps he shouldn't have 5 dogs lol

[EnoughnowIthink]

I had one man complain that he didn't get enough dog food and he had 5 dogs. Also wanted a donation to pay his vets bill. Dont think he took kindly to me telling him perhaps he shouldn't have 5 dogs lol

Lol? You work with people who have fallen on hard times and lol?

[Lochmorlich]

I put childrens toothbrushes and toothpaste in once and got some looks from the woman who happened to be sorting the trolley out.
Seemed like a useful contribution to me.
I did put food in as well.

[MariaAngustias]

@MRSGGG our food bank would dispose of any opened packets so no they would not use them they would be thrown away.

[ohcarolina2001]

Would brand new unexpired pregnancy tests be useful in a food bank? I have lots that I don’t need and figure they are expensive to buy so might be useful there? Genuinely don’t know though!

[Ragwort]

Season you would be surprised how few people actually read the notices about what donations are useful ..... I think all of us involved in running FBs just get used to the fact that our most popular donations are pasta, baked beans and porridge oats! We frequently contact local FBs to see if we can 'share' donations but we all have excessive quantities of exactly the same thing!

[PrelovedWithValue]

Would brand new unexpired pregnancy tests be useful in a food bank? I have lots that I don’t need and figure they are expensive to buy so might be useful there? Genuinely don’t know though!

I think you'd need to speak to your local food bank.
We can tell from this thread that different food banks use different guidelines. But if not, you could freecycle them or put them on olio, which is an app designed for giving stuff away free.

[ohcarolina2001]

Thanks @PrelovedWithValue - all good suggestions!

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I give to our local foodbank and try to think.of things that are easy to cook (so cheaper on electricity costs) and filling. So, tinned frankfurters, tinned veg, Packets of microwave rice, tins of chicken in white sauce etc.

I also put in stuff like washing up liquid, laundry capsules as I figure they are expensive. But maybe I need to check with the FB as its never occurred to me that they might not be acceptable.