DH is using community pantry for free food

[cookingaroast]

There is a community pantry in our village, with the purpose being to cut food waste. I completely support cutting down on food waste, and the food provided is all from supermarkets who would otherwise throw the food out. My issue is more I'm a bit uncomfortable with us taking the food.
We are both in the tech industry and both fall into the higher tax bracket for our salaries, more than capable of paying for food ourselves.

I've said to DH I don't think we should be utilising this resource and leave the food for others who need it more than us but he loves the bargains (free food) he gets from it. He genuinely wants to show off the stuff he's picked up whenever he goes - which is usually once a week.

I guess I feel a bit uncomfortable that this free food could be a lifeline to people. I do like charity shopping and getting a bargain but I don't feel as bad, as I'm paying what they decide they feel it's worth and the money is going to charity. This is completely free and run by volunteers.

I used to use my community pantry regularly and feel no guilt. It's not a food bank and it was made clear when I went it was for all. When the supermarket over ordered marmalade oranges I made a nice batch of marmalade. The people who used the pantry due to financial issues did not take this kind of food, or the fennel bulbs. No judgment on my part but generally if you're struggling financially you're not looking for fancy food that uses a lot of energy to cook. So I reduced food waste and enjoyed it. I left the more 'useful' food e.g. potatoes, carrots etc.

But surely they can't predict what will be left over that day from the shops/cafes etc.
You couldn't rely on it to plan actual meals.

You are allowed to go twice a week and I tend to meal plan around that but there's almost always things such as steak, chicken drumsticks/thighs, mince, meatballs, pizzas etc.

It's actually alarming just how much supermarkets etc waste.

If he's helping to prevent food waste (and actually eating what he takes) then I think he sounds great.

I had not realised there was a difference between a food bank and a community pantry before reading this thread. I think both are excellent schemes.

The fact that people cannot differentiate between anti-food waste initiatives and food banks is quite fascinating.

The food waste in UK is about 9 million tonnes annually iirc., people.
Iirc from that the shops waste 200k. That is 200,000,000 kg.
Imagine it in pasta bags. That weight equals to Four Hundred Million standard 500g pasta bags. How ridiculous is that. Edible food.

Anyone using anti food waste initiatives gets a point from me.

Is there anyone with food retail experience who can explain why so much unsold food goes to waste? Obviously we don't want shortages, but that doesn't seem to be an issue if so much is wasted. How are shops/supermarkets receiving so much food that won't be sold before its expiry date?

Over ordering I assume. Not wanting customers to be annoyed because they've sold out.

I've always assumed (wrongly perhaps) that orders are based on what sells and when (some of it will be seasonal). So if mounds of stuff is frequently going to waste, I'd expect them to order less of it. But I've never worked in food retail. I know we can't avoid it completely but some of the figures are quite alarming.

sometimes its things like a cold summer weekend and salad sales drop.

I think calling a food bank an excellent scheme is a bit of strange way to view it.
That there is a need for them in this country is absolutely appalling.
They are a temporary solution to immediate food needs and go no way to addressing the problem or solution.

Absolutely. It's been loooong time sinceI left retail, but yes, thimgs can change quickly. Order for bank holiday weekend, weather changes, crapton of left over while if weather stayed nice, shelves would be emptied.
With basics such as bread shops don't want empty shelves because that would drive cuatomers to other shops.
Basics are what most people go for in anyway and that's why they are usually at the back of the store.

Your DH is correct. It’s not a food bank. He’s as entitled to use it as is everyone. It’s about reducing food waste not feeding starving kids.

I bet a lot won’t use it because they dislike the idea of eating food past its best before or on its use by date.

Yes you can - it’s easy

Well stocked pantry
Access to google

I use Olio all the time and I almost never have to buy more than 1 additional ingredient to complete a recipe using the items I’ve picked up for free.

I run a food pantry and a lot of it is counter-seasonal or over-stocking.

Rainy weather? We get salads and sausages.
Hot? Soups.
Week after Halloween? Pumpkins.
January? Mince pies, xmas chocs.
And so much high-end bread and patisserie from posh markets, mad quantities.

We receive and distribute around a tonne a week (a Transit van's worth).

So much virtue signalling. I just don’t get it - he is using the pantry exactly as intended.

ditto people thinking that if you’re rich and shopping at a charity shop you’re depriving poor people of bargains 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷

How would anyone know how many people are struggling in the village and how can anyone be sure that if you don’t take it it will be taken by someone else?
If there was one in my village I wouldn’t have a clue who needed it it’s not like I know the financial situation of every person I would assume anyone who needed it would go there and collect the food.

Gosh
That's not aimed at him ,that's for people actually struggling,you are taking food out of the mouths of people struggling.
I'd be so upset if my DH did that

Yes exactly.
All it takes is some unexpected weather or something like a traffic accident that blocks the road so people can't drive to the supermarket and they are left with piles of unsold fresh goods.

No it's not, it's for everyone to prevent food waste.

Omg.

No what I meant was you can't predict what the community pantry will have.
One day they might have piles and piles of unsold parsnips because someone at Tesco ordered the wrong amount in error.
The next day it might be some uncollected platters of party sandwiches from a local deli.
It's random.

Community larders/fridges are for everyone.

lol

That’s exactly what I’m saying -

agsin - well stocked pantry at home, access to google and hey presto, it’s pretty easy to use up whatever perishables you’ve picked up for free.

Tonight I’m making a vegetarian stroganoff - I had to pick up a bottle of red wine and a punnet of mushrooms, I already had all the non perishable items and sour cream, and the onions, peppers, leeks and courgettes I had from Olio over the past week.

I initially agreed with you OP but PP are right this is more of an eco shop rather than a food bank, so is fine (agree he should make a donation though).