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

olgadapolga

AUDITOR said:

... a local homeless shelter, Or just go into your local town centre and hand it out to the homeless people you'll inevitably find there.

I had a massive box of vegetables and fruit given to me, far more than I could use before it went off (it was looking pretty ropey when I received it). I took it to a local night shelter where they provide breakfast and an evening meal and the people running it said that they didn't want it for the shelter. U suggested that they share it amongst the volunteers, as otherwise it was heading for the bin.

Freebies that I get from Greggs, etc., get given to the town centre homeless if they want it. Some don't! Some ask for money, which I don't carry but some accept/some refuse food and a drink if I offer to buy it for them. 

As for the OP, why not get cheaper food via an app if you are going to use it? Why let it go to waste?

SBF40

Deleted_User said:

elsien said:

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!  

Disagree. This is food that has been offered to local charities but they don’t take it because they don’t accept perishables. If I was taking food away from the needy, there wouldn’t be surplus leftovers to go for animal food. 

I can’t be doing with being inaccurately guilt tripped.

Incorrect.  We take perishables.  The question was whether or not it was morally right to exploit the app.  If they really cared they would help people who are more in need to get on the app and therefore save money and, you know, actually be able to EAT.  This reeks of clearing the shelves when there's an offer on - the knock on effect is less choice from those who would be more deserving.  100% selfishness.

I don't feel it's selfish at all! I use Too Good To Go and as others have stated, it's about reducing food waste and not just about saving money. The food offered have different prices and somethings might still be considered to be expensive.  Using the app allows me to try food from different outlets, who I wouldn't normally encounter. It is a lucky dip with what you receive and there have been a few times where I have received something I can't eat and I have donated (where possible) it to street homeless people.  There is at least one organisation I have seen on the app, who uses their money to help people who have been affected the cost of living crisis, so in this instance, everyone's a winner!

AliB185

These apps are great for savvy shoppers to help reduce food waste which everyone could do whatever their circumstances I don’t believe this should be means tested its democracy an individuals will to help and survive. It’s more to do with location and availability also highlights business you may not know exists or genuinely shop at. Eg my son has graduated from uni struggling to find first job uses these app and often visits a local bakery for end of day savings it’s a local independent not high street chain. It’s good that this is on offer for so many reasons. Thanks for posting

Bonnymonny

Deleted_User said:

UTTERLY WRONG! I volunteer nofor 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!  

No need to be quite so rude from behind your keyboard.  It's open to all and it saves food being chucked in landfill, and redeems some profit for businesses  same with reduced food in supermarkets no shame in it at all, in fact it's common sense.

dromalanding

This is a tough one...

I remember going to Tesco and bagging a few bargains, and just 5 mins later I saw a staff member bag up the rest unbought reduced food into 3 big bin bags to get disposed of!!!
I used to work in a charity foodbank and so I hate seeing food go to waste.
If it was going to a charity, they would have put the food in crates... 

Sometimes food charities don't have the transport to collect food; most rely on volunteers with cars (and will pay expenses).
Sometimes, the food isn't what they need more of because they get too much of it already (tins, baked goods, junk food).
Sometimes, the supermarket don't care/ can't give it away (say a rural branch with few local charities), it's pennies on a global supermarket chain's books, although if someone asks to take it off their hands, they're happy to oblige. 

Remember the days when retailers poured bleach on their food waste? Long gone in these desperate times. 

If you want to help people on the poverty line; I can't imagine not buying reduced food on an app makes much difference. Some of them can't even afford £4. 

Instead you could:
- if you know your neighbours, discreetly offer help to buy food
- donate to/ volunteer at your local food bank (esp. as a driver); some have to buy in fresh foods, meat, fish, grains because living on tins isn't the recipe for a long life

tindella

You carry on using it. Throwing away good food is a crime and I don't think you are depriving someone else of cheap food.  I'm not on the breadline but if I see anything discounted in supermarkets I know it's because it's reached its sell by date and would otherwise be binned - so if it's something I would buy anyway I take it. Picked up an item in the Co-op that was reduced - but because it was the day before's date they couldn't sell it to me - instead they discounted a full priced item.  I asked what would happen to the out of date one and he said it would be binned - so I said - no - I'll take it with me.  It's been in the fridge all day and now it's going in my fridge, so he said "Take it"! 

SavemcSaveface

I use the TGTG app and our local bakery which I try and get from most weeks says the money they get goes straight to our local food bank, so I save food waste and get a freezer full of loaves for the week while also paying into the local food bank so a win- win all round and no moral dilema at all  

GB12

God almighty what is the matter with some of you?
The poor go to food banks and get food for FREE.
If you dont collect it it will be wasted.  
I get mine from cooplands. I only need so much bread, so if I have enough in I give it away at the pub or to neighbours. Those suggesting anything negative about collecting food that's going to be thrown away need to readjust their morals to reality.

SparklyB62

I have no issues with using this app occasionally to prevent food waste. I draw the line however at making use of our village community shop to buy items such as a large pack of toilet rolls for £5 when I am perfectly able to pay the supermarket price 

ninamustafina

I have also struggled with this dilemma, having previously volunteered for a community fridge project where it was nominally about preventing food waste and open to all, but the people who worked in the location where it was based felt there were lots of people in need coming through the doors and tutted about others who they thought didn't need the help taking anything. I can understand this to some extent, but there were always a few items being thrown away at the end of the week that could have been taken when they were in better condition by someone "less needy", and that's part of the food waste problem.

I do think TGTG is a different prospect though. It's cheap(ish) but not free, you often have to take what you're given, and people in genuine need are not going to risk spending money on something they might not be able to use. A £4 bag that should have cost £12 in a posh bakery is probably not going to contain many items, and you could get much more for your money (with a choice!) somewhere else if that's your main concern. So I don't have a problem with getting a treat through the app. I would personally be less inclined to buy one from the greengrocer or supermarket though as there is sometimes an element of choice. I once got a hotel breakfast through TGTG where I thought I'd just be given a bacon sandwich but basically was told to take whatever I liked from the buffet after it had closed, so I probably would leave that in future as it could have been a cheap main meal for someone.

As for paying for it through the app and then trying to donate it as some have suggested, it's hard. Food banks and community fridges have strict hygiene rules for chilled food, and if it's been sitting in your unregulated fridge overnight they quite rightly won't take it. As others have pointed out, many will only take specific items for donation and most fresh food donations come straight from industrial chilled storage. It's not something I'd attempt through Olio etc as I'm sure I'd have to throw at least some of it away due to stuff being at the end of its shelflife. So for me that's not an option unless I knew someone in advance who'd use the items and would take them whatever they were.

An interesting dilemma and interesting contributions, thank you!