Money Moral Dilemma: Is it OK to use a surplus food app even though I'm not struggling?

ginger_chocolate

Deleted_User said:

UTTERLY WRONG! I volunteer for a waste food charity.  We are struggling to get enough food for those who are struggling.  By reducing your shopping bill (even though you can afford the food anyway) you are literally taking food away from the needy.  Shame on you!  

You're struggling to get enough waste food? 

Does this mean people aren't wasting enough food? Or that people who can afford it should always buy the most expensive food on offer/not take advantage of deals? How would you decide what's OK and what's not?

pampamjuan

It can't be immoral to avoid food waste, and though you aren't struggling, the deli may be. By paying for the food you're helping the deli as well as stopping food go to waste. 

Ned14

This is about balance. Don't overdo it and create more waste or take more than your share.
 Apps are usually about reducing food waste, so they can be a good lesson for all of us, especially I find, for people who might not have to think about money normally. Seeing the bags full of food that could have been tipped can be 'food for thought' (sorry!)
For those on limited budgets, it's a win win to find food cheaper.
For those who feel that it's not fair, be aware that often the venues involved are a car journey away, so people without transport might not be able to get to pick up, so that food would be wasted. A Too Good to Go carvery on the drive home route is a win for me, the restaurant and the environment.
A Too Good to Go sandwich bag on the way into town to share with someone homeless is  also a winner.
Just, don't buy what you can't collect and use!

LookingToTheFuture_2

As other people have said, food waste and tackling poverty are two completely separate issues.
It's disgusting that people are trying to guilt trip others for getting cheap or free food that would otherwise have gone to landfill. No amount of stale bread or restaurant leftovers is going to "solve" poverty - that can only be done by political means.

Simonne15

The problem isn't about you taking reduced or free food, it's the difficulty for many people of being able to get to where the food is distributed for reasons of lack of transport, time and child care responsibilities, elderly mobility issues etc.
I know exactly the dilemma you have rightly raised so one solution I try is to buy/accept items that most people could use, then re-distribute to neighbours etc. and if anything is left, keep that. There always seems to be a lot of bakery products that most families could use or pass on. Its a pity that the supermarkets and commercial bakeries don't have a more organised production and ordering system. One local Olio Food Waste Hero near me sometimes takes an overload of bread and bakery products to the over-50's housing nearby and hands it out.
Good intentions and a little creative thought go a long way. Don't feel guilty - that does no-one any good.

Yorkie1924

Everyone has the right to buy reduced goods if they are for general sale, the definition of poor in the UK is very misleading anyway, many people are not poor in the true sense.

Husbandofstinky

It should all go straight to the food bank. Some perishables may be an issue but I'm sure that can be remedied if there is a will. I would anticipate that food waste at a food bank is amlost nil for all those using the food waste argument as justification.

Unfortunately for many self preservation is a human nature and we only have to go back to Covid and the hoarding from the shops as well as profiteering (I can remember the price of alchol gel/toilet paper on ebay). To me, here it is the self preservation of wealth ('I like a good bargain'). However, this is for the basics like food. I know a few wealthly very affluent pensioners who enjoy just this, camping out for the bargains and then hoovering them up (they know what things go on offer and when at all the local supermarkets). When quizzed all you get is 'well you have to look after the pennies...'

All I can say is go and watch 'I Daniel Blake'

Bypass Joe Public and straight to the food bank. Certain perishables may be an issue, but I am sure this can be sorted with a bit of effort.

cjdew

Olio is mainly salads and veg use by of that day. Legally they CANNOT be distributed after that day and also as a volunteer trust me, most are on the turn and need using. 

Bread is another matter, bur i have personally tried to give but Food-Banks here want tins only. 

I tried another route and was told by some (not all) people who were technically on the poverty line, "i don't do yellow labelled stuff".

Years ago my aunt volunteered teaching people on the poverty line how to cook from scratch and budget. She saved them om average £10 to £15 a week.

This is what we need more of. Teaching how to budget, how to cook, how to buy a whole chicken and use every bit lasting a week, not buy slices, or drumsticks or breasts that last less than 2 days.

Some of the comments on here are quite degrading to those that budget hard, work hard, cook from scratch. Food prices have gone up yes but you have to help yourself as much as you can- see comment "i don't do yellow labelled stuff" 

cjdew

Husbandofstinky said:

It should all go straight to the food bank. Some perishables may be an issue but I'm sure that can be remedied if there is a will. I would anticipate that food waste at a food bank is amlost nil for all those using the food waste argument as justification.

Unfortunately for many self preservation is a human nature and we only have to go back to Covid and the hoarding from the shops as well as profiteering (I can remember the price of alchol gel/toilet paper on ebay). To me, here it is the self preservation of wealth ('I like a good bargain'). However, this is for the basics like food. I know a few wealthly very affluent pensioners who enjoy just this, camping out for the bargains and then hoovering them up (they know what things go on offer and when at all the local supermarkets). When quizzed all you get is 'well you have to look after the pennies...'

All I can say is go and watch 'I Daniel Blake'

Bypass Joe Public and straight to the food bank. Certain perishables may be an issue, but I am sure this can be sorted with a bit of effort.

Olio and too good to go is all use by that day and best before that day. As are reductions.

Best before is one thing(choice to eat) . Use by legally foodbanks would be sued if person gets ill. 90% of reductions, olio, too good to go is USEBY. 

elsien

cjdew said:

Husbandofstinky said:

It should all go straight to the food bank. Some perishables may be an issue but I'm sure that can be remedied if there is a will. I would anticipate that food waste at a food bank is amlost nil for all those using the food waste argument as justification.

Unfortunately for many self preservation is a human nature and we only have to go back to Covid and the hoarding from the shops as well as profiteering (I can remember the price of alchol gel/toilet paper on ebay). To me, here it is the self preservation of wealth ('I like a good bargain'). However, this is for the basics like food. I know a few wealthly very affluent pensioners who enjoy just this, camping out for the bargains and then hoovering them up (they know what things go on offer and when at all the local supermarkets). When quizzed all you get is 'well you have to look after the pennies...'

All I can say is go and watch 'I Daniel Blake'

Bypass Joe Public and straight to the food bank. Certain perishables may be an issue, but I am sure this can be sorted with a bit of effort.

Olio and too good to go is all use by that day and best before that day. As are reductions.

Best before is one thing(choice to eat) . Use by legally foodbanks would be sued if person gets ill. 90% of reductions, olio, too good to go is USEBY. 

And Olio food tends not to be available till later at night. It’s the items they’ve reduced already, but still no one’s bought it.

It’s often not listed till 9pm in my area with collection by midnight. By which time all the food banks are closed anyway.
if it doesn’t go that night, some bbf items might keep till the next day; lots are well past their prime.
The sandwiches are use by that day. I’m happy to eat them the next day, but that’s different to a food bank being responsible legally for giving out of date food. 
I’m fairly sure food banks are not going to want to be paying extra disposal costs for bags of brown slimy salad