Did you know that schools waste a lot of food?

Question

Did you all know that schools throw out pounds of good food every day. It is so sad to see all the food that is left over throw out in the garbage each and every day. The schools have a policy that prohibits any one from taking any of the food home or giving it away to anyone. They would rather throw the good food in the garbage than give it to someone that could use it. I have seen steak fingers, pig in the blankets, turkey, ham, green beans, corn, sandwiches, dressing, whole cakes, brownies, cookies, etc. get throw in the trash. I am talking about gallons of good food being thrown out each day.

I think of all the people out there that are straving when I see all that food being thrown out. I was always taught NOT to waste food when I was growing up. Then I see the schools wasting all that good food. I think it is really sad.

Pat....We have policy in ours that if you won't eat it, then don't serve it. I know that in some schools the food is not fit to eat. Ours is different. If a child does not like the food that we are offering that day, they can have a sandwich. We even make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for those kids that don't have the money to buy a hot meal. The food in our school is very good food. We have them coming back for seconds. That is not allowed either unless they want to get seconds from the salad bar. Some days we even have pizza delivered in and also Arbbys as well.

Chip Monk, I am not talking about what the kids throw away. I am talking about what the kitchen throws out that is left over. In most cases there is plenty of food left over, and they will not let even the kids come back for seconds unless it is from the salad bar. The main course is the first thing that gets thrown in the garbage. I just feel like that this food can be given to the hungry folks that can't afford food. Or if nothing else, let the animals eat the food instead of throwing it in the garbage.

Answer 1

Yes, but they could wrap the stuff up safely and take it to the nearest homeless shelter, or some other organization that will have it eaten up quickly. So anyone who takes food like this from a shelter can sign a waiver if that is so important. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Answer 2

Some of the reason is Board of Health (edit for typo) violations. If someone gets food from a place and then gets food poisoning the business (or school) has little recourse. Or at least that is what is said by every fast food joint I've worked at. The grocery I work at now allows some things to be bought at discount prices. But I know at the fast food one reason things are thrown out is because they have past the hold time for the food. If it has been sitting in the "danger zone" for too long (usually over 4 hours) bacteria and such can grow and cause food borne illness. My store I work at can only give things like bread and some produce to the local food bank when it is no longer "fresh" enough for us to sell. Though the food is still good.

Answer 3

This sounds like a management problem. Someone is over-ordering and it is this area that probably needs re-evaluating. We know that in UK schools the opposite is true.....they tend to run out before all the kids have had a dinner. On these occasions sandwiches are offered. Food that is thrown away tends to be the food that the kids leave not from the kitchen. We also have a different system for kids whose parents are on a low income or who are on benefits.....in all UK schools there is a Free Meals system. Food that is wastage goes as pigswill. Is there anyone who could take this up with the school.......sounds like they have more money than sense!

Answer 4

That almost seems sinful to me. I know how restricted we
are and how far our money and food stamps go toward food.
I would think they could package it and send it to the people
who do Meals On Wheels. Once when we were on it, we were
given an envelope to pay what they felt we should pay for
using their service further. And I thought it was for unwell
people who also were low income. So I feel that what they
advertise is fraudulent. If all elderly could afford to pay what
these people asked of me, they'ed go out of business. And
I guess it is a business after all. They claim that people donate their time to be drivers and deliverers, but I didn't
know the money they ask for, is to go to both the organization
and also pays the drivers for their gas. It would be cheaper
to call in pizza for the rate I was given. Maybe it depends on
where one lives. I was living at an aunts at the time, in a very
nice neighborhood. Maybe the address was too pretentious?
Anyway, I don't have any use for them after my experience.
But surely there are soup kitchens to benefit. That is such a
shame to waste good food like that. They could offer it the
next day if it was refrigerated and microwaved. Maybe to the kids that can't afford to buy. They wouldn't mind leftovers.There should be some remedy to that situation you'd think.

Answer 5

Take what you want eat what you take, is the "old" rules of the cafeteria, one didn't leave the table until the tray was clean -- not much waste. Today's world, too much is wasted all the way around. What's the answer when it's the adults doing the wasting and/or allowing it ? I agree that a "throw away society" won't miss the water 'til the well runs dry, and that there's too much need in this world for the amount of garbage generated.

Answer 6

It's not just the schools, it's all restaurants, even fast food places like Burger King, Hardee's, McDonald's, etc. That's why most of them have locked dumpsters. It is a shame though. Why can't they just open a line for the needy after they get done serving everybody and let them eat before they throw it away? I understand we live in a sue happy society, but come on, there surely should be some way around some of this.

Answer 7

Yes, and food isn't the only thing they waste. Supplies. At the end of the school year, they just throw out the materials rather than store them (think paper, glue, pencils, markers, poster boards etc.)

It's true mismanagement at it's best imo. I think the lack of critical thinking must abound among administrators. Of, they just don't assume it's their job. Perhaps the changing of their positions, from one school to another might cause some of this.
But back to the food, yes, it's still mismanaged. Perhaps the idea of being "pc" and offering what poor Johnny might want to eat, instead of giving nutritious, tasty food to eat or the option of bringing your own, would curb some waste?

Sounds like a great cause, should you wish to take it up. You have my support.

Answer 8

And that is just what you can see. My son says his classmates hate the school food and it gets stuffed in the milk cartons so no on knows. If they cooked better food more would get eaten and they would not come home starved. We pay good money for those meal tickets they could at least serve something the kids will eat. Wont even give them the option of peanut butter on bread until they can show their plate is clean so they have to hide it.

Answer 9

and what pray tel are all the people going to eat, rotten food, do you really think people want left overs from some dude that couldn't finish his hamburger. Even hungry people dont want that junk. You cant expect for people to lick their plate. Besides, America donates tons of money to feed the needy, Are we responsible for the welfare of the world, I dont think so. atleast we shouldn't be held accountable. One thing I do know is that some grocery stores give away the food that is about to go bad to shelters. Things like milk that will spoil in a couple of days, bread fruit, preserves. I think thats more worth looking into than saving table scraps.

Answer 10

My mom worked for years in a cafeteria and said the same. They wouldn't let anyone have it.

There is alot of un-necessary waste. I worked for years at a department store. Things would be damaged and they would throw it out. No....they would not let you make an offer or even mark it down if you wanted to buy it......they would throw it in the dumpster and if after work you went and took it.....you were fired for stealing. I'm talking 3/4 dead plants that maybe someone good with plants could revive.....dented cans of dog food, ripped bags of dog food that were damaged in freight and you couldn't take it and they wouldn't donate it. I stood for 2, 8 hour shifts instructed to cut up mens ties they were throwing away. There was a nursing home who could have used them, ladies use them for crafts, schools needed them for art projects, heck someone could have found some use......but no....must be cut up and thrown away. They even went so far as to have one of those big concrete rollers come to roll over TVs, steroes, furniture etc so no one could use any part of it.

My husband was working in a place where a milk delivery guy took a good 50+ gallons of milk and had to throw them away. It wasn't quite expired yet, the store wasn't allowed to mark it down for quicker sales or even donate it. Makes no sense to me, when I've seen people dumpster diving for something to eat.

It's "their company policy" is all I ever heard. To a degree I could understand because if someone could trace something back to that store and they got sick or injured or something it would open them up for law suits. Made it too easy for employees to overproduce in order to get it for free. Made it easy for people to dumpster dive and claim they bought it and now want a refund or exchange......and people do that. Made it too easy for an employee to claim something was damaged in order to take it. I mean there's always those who have to abuse anything they can and ruin it for those who need it. So in a way I could understand.....but it is a shame to see such waste when so many are in need. I don't know if it's only the legal hassel or if donating etc. requires too much paper work to make it worth the effort. It is sad.

Answer 11

It is sad but they have to throw it out because if someone took it home and got sick from it the school would be liable it is the same way with resturants and deli's if the food has been out all day. I work at a grocery store with a hot food area and we have to do the same thing