What do Grocery Stores do with Leftover Food?

I really don't understand why they started dating food to being with. Anyone with common sense knows when something is bad.

Can food last a lot longer than dated if not damaged? Like milk if stored in the bottom of the fridge stays colder, etc.

No one should go hungry in any country that throws food away. Some dumpsters don't need to be filled with food when it could have been given to those who can't make it to the end of the month, or have no money at all to purchase food they need.

Why it not mentioned that grocery stores throw away (dispose of) food that are leftovers? Is that true or a conspiracy?

They might donate it, but they get to write it all off at the marked up price, which is why they never drop prices. Even though their prices are too high, it is worth more to them to throw it out than to sell it for a decent price!

I'm glad that some grocery stores donate the food to places that need it. There is a store in my hometown that frequently gives leftover food to a homeless shelter, where it is cooked or consumed right away. It doesn't have time to spoil.

@kylee07drg – It's good that your grocery store puts all the sale items in one spot. That would make it easier to catch the expiration date.

My grocery store just puts all of the meat in one area. The ones marked with the orange stickers are the packages that are almost out of date. Unfortunately, I didn't notice this the first time I bought steak, since it was right in with the steak that had just been cut.

I intended to cook the steak three days later, so I put it in the refrigerator instead of the freezer. When the time came to cook it, I opened up the package, and my nose was met with the foul odor of spoiled meat.

It never even made it to the pan, which I guess is a good thing, because it probably would have given us all food poisoning. I do wish that this store would designate a special section for items that are about to expire, though, because it's too easy to make this mistake.

If you have a large family like I do, then you can't keep food around for very long. So, I don't have to worry when I buy food that is marked at a deep discount because it is about to expire. I will be using it right away, anyway.

Unlike most people, I go to the grocery store nearly every day. I buy what I need to make the meal that night, and it is usually gone by the next day.

It's great to be able to buy meat and bread this way. My family can go through a loaf of bread in one night if we are having buttered garlic bread or some form of toast, and we go through an entire package of chicken or beef in one meal. I save a lot by buying off the nearly expired rack!

I'm really curious about what liability issues could possibly arise from dumpster diving! Obviously, the store didn't put the food out so that people could jump into the trash and get it. How on earth could anyone sue the store because they hurt themselves while going through their trash?

Not true. Many food banks buy expired frozen juices, meats and boxed foods or recently expired perishable foods for sale to low income families. I often shop there and most of the food is fine. You just need to be knowledgeable about what you are looking for.

Anon142877: I really don't care if they get write offs. To me, it's better than just throwing it away. Anything that feeds people who need to be fed is OK with me.

I think it is a shame that grocery stores charge a ridiculous amount for food items and then if it doesn't sell, it's disposed of in the ways mentioned and the stores write it all off as a loss. It is wasteful and greedy on the heels of many families who struggle to survive.

I saw a video on this very subject you guys are currently discussing (dumpster diving). In short, the lady that was being interviewed was middle to upper middle class and had not paid for groceries in, literally, years. I, personally, think it's disgusting, but to each his own. Simple food is the best food to have around and it doesn't matter how you find it, as long as you don't get food poisoning, I suppose you're good.

@win199 - The truth is that this happens a lot more than you would think. While it might be great for people to have a few leftover recipes in their repertoire, that's just not a possibility with bulk orders from grocery stores. The trick is to really know and understand food and what it's worth after it expires. For example, many foods simply lose nutrients after their date rather than start "rotting."

@laluna - This is actually very true and very disgusting at the same time! There are various reasons why people would go dumpster diving, but I would be so cautious of the leftover or expired food's safety if you know what I mean.

I heard of people who are experts in their particular area and regularly check the dumpsters for edible products.

Some might do it out of need, while others do it because they can not see good food going to waste.