Comments on: America the Wasteful

By: Jyl

Jyl — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:02:04 +0000

Madeline, there are now buttons to share the post, thank you so much!

By: Madeline White

Madeline White — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 07:12:10 +0000

I wish there was a “email symbol” on this article and its comments section so I could send this to the local TV stations, our senators and representatives, mayors, newspapers and any other outlets to inform customers of this outrageous waste created by businesses.

I plan to send it to those in the St. Louis and surrounding areas via email and hope that all people to read this (I had this as a reference on my facebook page) article to do the same. Maybe local news coverage will have some impact.

I think of all the starving people who could use these items and especially our children who go to bed hungry at night.

By: Christi

Christi — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:50:36 +0000

Just saw in the newspaper this morning that our local Food Lion is closing. Hmmmm…..wonder why!?!?!?!?

By: The Jilly Bean

The Jilly Bean — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:54:49 +0000

More Facebook Comments:

Eugenia : I work for a food vendor and this has been going on for YEARS!! You would also not believe what home improvement places throw in the dumpster!!

Eugenia : I see every day what they throw down the HOLE (dumpster)

Jacque: So sad. So many hungry people in our country. Policies need to be changed. Stores could get soup kitchens or whatever to sign documents that they could not sue for excepting free food for the needy. Sounds so simpleto me.

Marilyn: AMEN, well said.

Hometown Decatur: Here at Hometown Market, we DO discount everthing before it goes out of date! We would rather give our loyal customers a great deal than throw it away. Meats are marked down most mornings several days before the sell by date so you have time to cook it or package it to freeze. We keep a discount buggy near our Dairy Department where we mark down dry goods. Come see us if you are in Decatur

Linda: Hometown Decatur is one of the nicest and cleanest stores in Decatur. The staff is friendly and helpful and I suggest everyone should check them out. I am not a paid sponser just a happy shopper. I use coupons for everything and some stores tell me that I can’t use them on markdown items. (Hometown in Athens got ugly about it so I never go there anymore. ) Coupons help feed my family and makes it possible for me to help others. Just wish there wasn’t always so much hassle over using them.

Marina: I definitely see the stores side as well. If you mar everything to clearance price ppl won’t buy the regular price. Business is business. I wish there was a happy middle.

Darbi : Food Lion does the same thing with veggies except NO mark down, just toss in the garbage….UNBELIEVABLE…starving people, wasteful big business…

Cheryl: I am working with a major national outreach for their groceries. They made me aware of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act that allows donations without liability. Kroger’s does this to food banks so the meat can be frozen for soup kitchens. Maybe we need to get a copy of this act and start showing it to some of these grocers. WalMart is one of the worst offenders, won’t hardly buy from them because of their attitudes on this. This law was first passed in 1966, revised 1990, and 1996. As long as proper food safety guidelines are followed, there is protection for these stores to donate.

Denise : I watched The Big Waste on the Food Network the other night- it was eye-opening how much food is wasted, some of it before it even makes it TO the market!

Deborah: This is so sad. I would rather give it to someone that can use it instead of throwing it away. There are too many people out there struggling to survive.

By: Lyndsay from CHARMED

Lyndsay from CHARMED — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:03:28 +0000

Years ago we used to get free bread products from a bread delivery guy who worked for a large company. He was a friend of ours and didn’t have the heart to throw away the massive amounts of product that didn’t go onto store shelves. It always made me sick that they weren’t allowed to donate the bread. He delivered to his friends on the sly and it was a Godsend to us at the time because times were tough.

I followed you here from a link on Facebook. Thank you for a great article.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:50:38 +0000

Thanks for that idea Rebecca about the church. I am going to suggest this idea for our church. Awesome way to help people out.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:41:33 +0000

I think you hit on something big right there Beth. Because we have become a sue happy nation, it makes it hard on businesses to take that risk. Despite the The Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, there are still ways that they stores can get sued. So I would imagine for many it’s not worth the risk. After all, if they are getting sued, then their profits take a hit. If their profits are taking a hit, many end up closing down. Unfortunately, the bottom line is what makes or breaks a store.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:26:57 +0000

I just read the Act and it does not keep them from being sued. There are loop holes and it is risky. It is sad that the items don’t get donated, but if people were to become sick from food poisoning or die from it, that would be sad. So there is the weighing of the risks as well.
I’m also very aware that there are stores that don’t like to waste, so they add the meat going bad to the good by hiding it underneath the good. This is a poor practice as well.

For those interested, here is a link to the Act: http://www.usda.gov/news/pubs/gleaning/seven.htm