free food out of supermarket bins ?????

kalaika

On the point of whether it is allowed, I would have thought that, even though the stuff is in the bins to be disposed of, it still belongs to the supermarket. So, unless the supermarket either gives the stuff to you or gives you permission to take it, then it's probably *technically* theft.

For me, being 'allowed' to do it or not would be irrelevant. The safety concerns of cross-contamination (with bleach, glass, etc as others have said) would outweigh the benefits of getting a few quid of food for free (although I know I'm lucky that I'm not in a position where I *need* to do this).

Of course, it's a complete waste that the food is there in the first place. Surely a supermarket could get a good bit of publicity by giving it to the homeless rather than chucking it. Yes, I know they are worried about lawsuits. But, let's be honest, the vast, vast majority of food is perfectly fine to eat on and just after its use by date.

PixiePie

kalaika wrote: »

On the point of whether it is allowed, I would have thought that, even though the stuff is in the bins to be disposed of, it still belongs to the supermarket. So, unless the supermarket either gives the stuff to you or gives you permission to take it, then it's probably *technically* theft.

Unfortunately technically yes it is theft - your rubbish belongs to you until the binmen pick it up, whether that is in a skip or in a bin or just left on your sideboard ready to take to the tip.

kalaika wrote: »

For me, being 'allowed' to do it or not would be irrelevant. The safety concerns of cross-contamination (with bleach, glass, etc as others have said) would outweigh the benefits of getting a few quid of food for free (although I know I'm lucky that I'm not in a position where I *need* to do this).

That's less of a worry as it's usually the really well packaged stuff that you can dive for, and seeing as our society has an obsession with totally over packaging the simplest of items, it's usually pretty safe.Common sense rules however.

kalaika wrote: »

Of course, it's a complete waste that the food is there in the first place. Surely a supermarket could get a good bit of publicity by giving it to the homeless rather than chucking it. Yes, I know they are worried about lawsuits. But, let's be honest, the vast, vast majority of food is perfectly fine to eat on and just after its use by date.

That's the problem though - how many ambulance chaser 'law' firms would be frothing at the mouth to take on a no win no fee case from a homeless person against one of the big bad supermarkets - it's a win win situation, the press coverage, the media spotlight, it would be a loosing battle for the supermarket to defend and would have to payout a HUGE amount, followed by a flood of court cases all professing the same thing to have happened.
It's so sad that in this day and age common sense and common decency is pushed aside for the quick pound. (And that there are homeless people at all in this country, but that's another whole rant lol).

vikki_louise

I saw it on wifeswap the other week. I know some london shops are now signed up to a scheme that distributes it to those in need, if only all signed up. We held a charity party a couple of years back (which a local company donated the food for), there was lots left over which I planned to give to our local homeless charity (who do lunches) but unfortentuly they are only open week days and one weekend a month so it would of meant the sandwhiches were stale by then. We froze various things and sent people home with bits but its a shame that people in real need couldn't have them.

I've also heard its illegal to raid bins as its the shops property even when in the bin, if i had the guts i would love to see whatsin there (a bit like charity shops ones too!)

Queenriderbrekke

If a muti pack is split open, the shop are not meant to sell the contents off seperately!

It's part of the conditions on any multi pack.

beth464

I used to work at M&S and we could buy the waste food at the end of the day for cheap. When the staff had had their pick the rest went to charity

RockGypsy

I have done this a few times in the past when i was really skint.I used to live nextdoor to a Netto and went just after it had closed.Id only get tinned or packaged food which id check out first and wash with anti bac when i got home.There used to be a couple of lads who would get meat out of it and sell it in pubs (yuck):D

PixiePie

beth464 wrote: »

I used to work at M&S and we could buy the waste food at the end of the day for cheap. When the staff had had their pick the rest went to charity

Oh, my brother used to do this for us - going back about 17 years now! I just remember the gorg. Toffee pavlovas he used to bring home - we never had dessert in our house, so it was so so special. He used to say that some members of staff were known to 'accidentally' drop fragile things like cakes, but not too badly, and then hide them so they could go into the staff shop at the end of the day when they needed a cake or something! Oh the memories....

thenthornthing

Lol, earlier this year my step-dad was in a shop buying a pasty and the woman dropped it on the perfectly "clean" floor.
She went to throw it away when, to me and my mums embarrassment, he asked for it for 50p... she said, I can't accept money for it so just take it.

So for £2.50 we had 2 big pasties... lol

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT

thenthornthing wrote: »

Lol, earlier this year my step-dad was in a shop buying a pasty and the woman dropped it on the perfectly "clean" floor.
She went to throw it away when, to me and my mums embarrassment, he asked for it for 50p... she said, I can't accept money for it so just take it.

So for £2.50 we had 2 big pasties... lol

ROFL that's so funny, fair play to your dad though

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT

I'd do it if I wasn't so frightened of getting caught by the police! and since I get caught doing most things that I shouldn't be doing :rolleyes: I reckon I'll have to give this a miss.

My local asda don't have that many reductions left at the end of the day so I can't imagine there would be much to steal anyway