PURPLE'S ZOO

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

Coming from a 3rd world country like the Philippines, it sickens me to know and see that left over food from bakeries, restaurants, grocery store or any other kind of market that sell food GO TO WASTE.

I was at Sam's Club 4 days ago with Chuck and I was just beeing nosey (I'm always saying: I is so nozey lol) and approached this young lady that was picking out all their breads (in-store baked or branded) out of the shelves and shoving them in several carts. So you know, I'm approcahing her and asking what they'll do to them bread. Of course I already knew it will be trashed but I still have to hear for myself. Okay, so she said they will have to discard it because they all have the "Used By" date on Tuesday. I asked her again why don't they just give it to the poor house or soup kitchen or shelters. I'm sure there are hundreds of loaves of bread and rolls that will be goin to waste. She said they're not allowed to give them away to anyone, the staff can take maybe a loaf or 2 for themselves to take home but not for anyone else. I'm like "OMG, are you serious?" She's like, "Yes. I hate to do it but I'll be in trouble if they catch me sneeking them out to give away." I was trying to maintain my composure and not say anything anymore coz Chuck was dragging me away from the girl. I just made a comment, that it was such a shame to throw away perfectly edible food instead of giving them away to the needy. It's an appalling thing to see for someone like me that grew up so poor and had to eat mostly 1x day or rationed food coz we can't afford it. The girl knew I was getting upset. She just said she was sorry and she doesn't understand why it's like that too. So Chuck finally told me to move on, he was explaining to me why they do that. I know it's a health issue...but I'll be darned if I trash food that are still good, knowing that just around the corner there are all sorts of homeless folks digging thru someone's trash.

Okay I said it...it doesn't make me feel that much better but I had to vent. I just can't stand wastefulness when it comes to food. I may be extravagant with a few things now that I've moved up and make a certain amount of money but I will never forget where I come from and will never turn my back to anyone needing help. Wish I can feed or help more people everyday but my donations only go half way. I keep praying that poverty be gone, sooner than later.

I agree too. It is disgusting to be so wasteful. But that is our society. A few days after the date will not hurt anyone. Besides there are so many hungry people in this world that the same day they would recieve the items I'm sure it would all be used on that day. I don't understand it myself.

I agree fully with everything you've said Cece, what a waste when so many people are going hungry. It happens here in the UK too, although I know a couple of our supermarkets do donate food to the Salvation Army, who then distribute it to homeless centers. In my town there are always people begging for money in the town center, unfortunately more often than not it's for drugs or drink rather than to buy something to eat. If someone asked me for money I would offer to pay for something for them to eat, if they refuse then I know they want it for other reasons and I wouldn't give anything.

Things seem a bit different here in Canada, at least in our little town. All the bakeries here send their "Day old bread" to the Salvation Army in town. They run the food bank and a soup kitchen. I only know of one bakery that doesn't do this and that's becasue they are the most popular bakery in town and rarely have any left over bread. When they do they mark it down for their customers to buy as there's not enough to warrent sending it over to the Sally Ann. Maybe the bread you saw was more than a few days old? I know bread lasts on my counter for at least a week (if no one eats it all first) and after that it gets made into bread crumbs or croutons.

Thank you all for your input. I'm glad to hear that some places still follow the Good Samaritan sample. It really is a shame for these establishements wasting food but I guess it's on a state-by-state rule. Ya'll have to see what these fast food restaurants throw away....it's sad. But like I said, it's the health dept. rules. The loaves of bread that I saw her getting out from the rolling display cart had the "Use By Date" the same day I was there, it wasn't no day-old bread.

I agree with you ladies! It is a shame that BIG retail stores can just write things off and throw it away when there are so many hungry people in this country. Makes you really sad to hear this. We have a Maryland Food Bank and they could send it to them.

Yes we agree Cece, this grumps us too.

Certain places here do it, but there is the ones that don't either.

You know we worked in a nursing home & the kitchen always cooked to much food. Well the nursing home was letting the help it the extra food, untill 1 day they hired this man. He said he would rather throw it out then let the help eat it & thats what he did. Perfectly good food nothing wrong with it, he would not let the kitchen keep it & he would not let the help eat it. He would watch everyday to make sure none of the help got it.

It is very sad that this goes on. The rich don't seem to care if there is someone out there going hungry, all they seem to care about is thereselves & how much money they are going to get.

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
PURPLE'S ZOO	[email protected]