Do you agree with donations of past their bb date food to homeless

Bobthefireman

I'm just wondering whether you think it's good or kind or a cynical marketing ploy to donate left over food to the homeless? Or women in refuges?
They can't sell it, but they can expect homeless to eat it.
For what it's worth, I feel it is insulting to the people who need to access such services. A soggy day-old sandwich? Way to make me appreciate you!
But that's all I deserve? I should be grateful and shut my mouth?

listermint

Its best before, not gone off.





<next>

Bobthefireman

listermint wrote: »

Its best before, not gone off.





<next>

So you agree. NEXT!

The_Valeyard

If your hungry, food is food.

Winterlong

The_Valeyard wrote: »

If your hungry, food is food.

You forgot to say Next.

Jawgap

Best before is a quality indication, not a safety instruction like 'use by' - better it gets consumed rather than dumped.

If they want to sell it and use the money to fund homelessness charities I'd buy some of it.

Timberrrrrrrr

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I'm just wondering whether you think it's good or kind or a cynical marketing ploy to donate left over food to the homeless? Or women in refuges?
They can't sell it, but they can expect homeless to eat it.
For what it's worth, I feel it is insulting to the people who need to access such services. A soggy day-old sandwich? Way to make me appreciate you!
But that's all I deserve? I should be grateful and shut my mouth?

If I was homeless and hungry then a soggy day old sandwich would be much preferable to an empty stomach, do you think it would be better to throw it in the bin and waste it as has been the case?

Bobthefireman

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

If I was homeless and hungry then a soggy day old sandwich would be much preferable to an empty stomach, do you think it would be better to throw it in the bin and waste it as has been the case?

I'd prefer to be offered a fresh sandwich frankly.

Lady is a tramp

Don't see anything wrong with it. The amount of totally edible food that gets dumped by supermarkets after the best before date is shocking. If I was homeless, I'd much prefer to be given that than to starve.

Insert joke along the lines of "beggars can't be choosers" ...

Deedeemazzy

as JawGap said, BB means best before not use by
A Use by date is different and usually longer than best before date

Timberrrrrrrr

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I'd prefer to be offered a fresh sandwich frankly.

And what should be done with the food that isn't sold in the store that day?

Bobthefireman

I suppose they are saving themselves the waste disposal charges. "Give it to the homeless! They're not going to sue us if they die from food poisoning! hahahahhaha Plus we get the publicity of being a 'caring' organisation."

Bobthefireman

It's cynical. If they really cared about the homeless they would offer fresh food to them.

SB_Part2

I don't really see an issue with this. The food isn't gone off and nobody is forcing them to eat it. Would you rather it went in the bin?

suicide_circus

You see "homeless" in this country does not mean starving. People who are literally sleeping rough probably due to chronic addiction and/or mental health issue might be suffering malnutrition but being "homeless" as in living in a hotel does not mean you're hard up for food. We really are incredibly lucky to live in a charmed society such as this.

Bobthefireman

SB_Part2 wrote: »

I don't really see an issue with this. The food isn't gone off and nobody is forcing them to eat it. Would you rather it went in the bin?

Yes.

Bobthefireman

Homeless are actually starving.

Timberrrrrrrr

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I suppose they are saving themselves the waste disposal charges. "Give it to the homeless! They're not going to sue us if they die from food poisoning! hahahahhaha Plus we get the publicity of being a 'caring' organisation."

Pretty silly outlook to have

In France it's illegal for supermarkets to throw away food or deliberately spoil it and they have to donate it to charities.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/04/french-law-forbids-food-waste-by-supermarkets

Again though, what do you think is the better option for a store to do with bread/cakes/sandwiches etc that were made that morning?

Also it's not just fresh food like bread/fruit/veg, even tinned and bottled goods have a bb date.

SB_Part2

Bobthefireman wrote: »

Yes.

You'd rather see food go in the bin than given to the homeless?

You're a terrible person.

Jawgap

Deedeemazzy wrote: »

as JawGap said, BB means best before not use by
A Use by date is different and usually longer than best before date

Other way around

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I suppose they are saving themselves the waste disposal charges. "Give it to the homeless! They're not going to sue us if they die from food poisoning! hahahahhaha Plus we get the publicity of being a 'caring' organisation."

If there is a risk of food poisoning, for example if the product is classed as high risk ready-to-eat, then it will have a use-by date not a best before one.

Best before dated food tends to be ambient, shelf stable food that will be qualitatively objectionable long before it ever becomes a health risk.

Passing on 'short coded' food coming up to or just past it's best before date is a good idea. It saves on waste, and if the food is from a decent source (M&S, Tesco, Dunnes etc) it's probably of a much higher quality than someone receiving the donation could otherwise afford.

Deedeemazzy

suicide_circus wrote: »

You see "homeless" in this country does not mean starving. People who are literally sleeping rough probably due to chronic addiction and/or mental health issue might be suffering malnutrition but being "homeless" as in living in a hotel does not mean you're hard up for food. We really are incredibly lucky to live in a charmed society such as this.

So can you explain the queues of people gathering up for food at the food handouts on O'Connell Street and the % of people living below the poverty line?
Just wondering how you consider this very badly managed country as charmed..

corner of hells

We're actually pretty good at providing door services in Ireland for homeless , Bro. Luke's , MQI and a few others all are involved in food provision.

I've only ever seen to individuals suffering from malnutition in homeless and drug services and both had significant mental I'll health.

Deedeemazzy

Jawgap wrote: »

Other way around

What is the difference between a ‘best before’ and a ‘use by’ date?
The date of minimum durability, or ‘best before’ date, is the date until which a foodstuff retains its specific properties e.g. taste, aroma, appearance, any specific qualities which relate to the product, vitamin content etc. when the product has been stored appropriately and the package unopened.

Typically, a ‘best before’ date is used for food products such as canned, dried, ambient, frozen foods etc. Many foods that are past their ‘best before’ date may be safe to eat, but their quality may have deteriorated.

In the case of foods, which from a microbiological point of view, are highly perishable and are therefore likely after a short period to constitute an immediate danger to human health, the date of minimum durability must be replaced by the ‘use by’ date. The ‘use by’ is the date up until which a food may be used safely i.e. consumed, cooked or processed, once it has been stored correctly. After the ‘use by’ date a food is deemed unsafe in accordance with article 14(2) of Regulation EC No. 178/2002 and cannot be sold.

Typically, a ‘use by’ date is used for fresh, ready-to-eat and chilled foods such as yogurt, milk, meat, unpasteurised fruit juices etc.

An exception to this is raw, shell eggs which require a ‘best before’ date as set out in Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 as regards marketing standards for eggs.

Rippy Blade

OP - why does the sandwich have to be "soggy" and "old". It's just past it's Best Before date. And what about everything else that isn't a sandwich?

Bobthefireman wrote: »

"Give it to the homeless! They're not going to sue us if they die from food poisoning!

You think people will die?

Are you okay, OP? Your claims are hyperbole.

Are you making decisions for homeless people now? That's very condescending. You don't think they can decide for themselves?

Bobthefireman

To put it simply, when I was recently admitted to A&E, the doctor told me that from my blood tests, he could tell that I was not eating. He then told me to go home, rest and eat. I'm homeless. And he knew that. I know doctors can't do anything and I could see the amazement and desperation in his face, but the reality is, I can not take the doctor's advice. I have no home to go and no food to eat.

SB_Part2

Bobthefireman wrote: »

To put it simply, when I was recently admitted to A&E, the doctor told me that from my blood tests, he could tell that I was not eating. He then told me to go home, rest and eat. I'm homeless. And he knew that. I know doctors can't do anything and I could see the amazement and desperation in his face, but the reality is, I can not take the doctor's advice. I have no home to go and no food to eat.

Are you in Dublin? Why don't you go to the Capuchin Day Centre for food?

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

Del2005

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I suppose they are saving themselves the waste disposal charges. "Give it to the homeless! They're not going to sue us if they die from food poisoning! hahahahhaha Plus we get the publicity of being a 'caring' organisation."

You don't get food poisoning from food past its best before date and for a lot of food even after the use by date it's still safe.

If you see the food eaten by the people poor people, in richer countries than ours, I think they wouldn't be upset about getting a can of beans a few days past its BB date.

Bobthefireman

Rippy Blade wrote: »

OP - why does the sandwich have to be "soggy" and "old". It's just past it's Best Before date. And what about everything else that isn't a sandwich?


You think people will die?

Are you okay, OP? Your claims are hyperbole.

Are you making decisions for homeless people now? That's very condescending. You don't think they can decide for themselves?

We eat anything that's going. But it's not fair to accept glorification for donations to the homeless when you were going to throw them out anyway!

corner of hells

Bobthefireman wrote: »

To put it simply, when I was recently admitted to A&E, the doctor told me that from my blood tests, he could tell that I was not eating. He then told me to go home, rest and eat. I'm homeless. And he knew that. I know doctors can't do anything and I could see the amazement and desperation in his face, but the reality is, I can not take the doctor's advice. I have no home to go and no food to eat.

You're not eating by choice , there are food services in Ireland for homeless people.

Bobthefireman

corner of hells wrote: »

You're not eating by choice , there are food services in Ireland for homeless people.

Where?

Deedeemazzy

I think boards dot ie needs to do it like Facebook with the sad and angry emotions..
Giving thanks is a bit weird ... coming as a newbie to Boards and quite a FB head

Gatling

JCB anyone

JakeBell

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I'm just wondering whether you think it's good or kind or a cynical marketing ploy to donate left over food to the homeless? Or women in refuges?
They can't sell it, but they can expect homeless to eat it.
For what it's worth, I feel it is insulting to the people who need to access such services. A soggy day-old sandwich? Way to make me appreciate you!
But that's all I deserve? I should be grateful and shut my mouth?

Yeah you tell somebody in need that you're not giving them the sandwich because it's best before date has expired. They'll like you!

Lady is a tramp

Bobthefireman wrote: »

To put it simply, when I was recently admitted to A&E, the doctor told me that from my blood tests, he could tell that I was not eating. He then told me to go home, rest and eat. I'm homeless. And he knew that. I know doctors can't do anything and I could see the amazement and desperation in his face, but the reality is, I can not take the doctor's advice. I have no home to go and no food to eat.

And yet you wouldn't be happy to be given free food that's gone by the BB date?

I'm not homeless, I often eat food past that date ... obviously I buy it before then, but sometimes it's a few days before I get round to eating it. If it looks and smells fine, it's probably fine.

corner of hells

Bobthefireman wrote: »

Where?

Where are you in Ireland ?

Deedeemazzy

Bobthefireman wrote: »

Where?

On O'Connell Street at night they give out clothes and food.. GPO

Bobthefireman

corner of hells wrote: »

Where are you in Ireland ?

Waterford

Jawgap

Deedeemazzy wrote: »

What is the difference between a ‘best before’ and a ‘use by’ date?
The date of minimum durability, or ‘best before’ date, is the date until which a foodstuff retains its specific properties e.g. taste, aroma, appearance, any specific qualities which relate to the product, vitamin content etc. when the product has been stored appropriately and the package unopened.

Typically, a ‘best before’ date is used for food products such as canned, dried, ambient, frozen foods etc. Many foods that are past their ‘best before’ date may be safe to eat, but their quality may have deteriorated.

In the case of foods, which from a microbiological point of view, are highly perishable and are therefore likely after a short period to constitute an immediate danger to human health, the date of minimum durability must be replaced by the ‘use by’ date. The ‘use by’ is the date up until which a food may be used safely i.e. consumed, cooked or processed, once it has been stored correctly. After the ‘use by’ date a food is deemed unsafe in accordance with article 14(2) of Regulation EC No. 178/2002 and cannot be sold.

Typically, a ‘use by’ date is used for fresh, ready-to-eat and chilled foods such as yogurt, milk, meat, unpasteurised fruit juices etc.

An exception to this is raw, shell eggs which require a ‘best before’ date as set out in Regulation (EC) No. 589/2008 as regards marketing standards for eggs.

Yes, that's all quite correct, but you had said.....

A Use by date is different and usually longer than best before date

Generally speaking, bb dates tend to be rendered in months, even years and described in terms of 'end of' whereas ub dates relate to a very specific date and tend to be only a matter of days - bb dates tend to be longer than ub dates.

suicide_circus

Deedeemazzy wrote: »

So can you explain the queues of people gathering up for food at the food handouts on O'Connell Street and the % of people living below the poverty line?
Just wondering how you consider this very badly managed country as charmed..

Have you ever been to a properly poor or war ravaged country? This is paradise

ScumLord

Bobthefireman wrote: »

I'd prefer to be offered a fresh sandwich frankly.

But that's not going to happen. Supermarket have a hard date written on their products that they can't really sell the product past but the product is still perfectly edible. Normally they throw that out, which is crazy, what's worse is they have prosecuted people for taking their waste.

It makes much more sense to give it to people who can't afford the food, it can't be sold, it's heading for the dump. It costs them nothing to give it to people who need it. Giving you products that they can sell just isn't going to happen.

It's the same food, someone who's hungry would be utterly daft to stick their nose up at it because the supermarket can't lose money on it any more.

Deedeemazzy

Jawgap wrote: »

Yes, that's all quite correct, but you had said.....



Generally speaking, bb dates tend to be rendered in months, even years and described in terms of 'end of' whereas ub dates relate to a very specific date and tend to be only a matter of days - bb dates tend to be longer than ub dates.

I had a very general idea about it and thought I had it down
Okay, well .. every day ya learn something new

Bobthefireman

Bobthefireman wrote: »

To put it simply, when I was recently admitted to A&E, the doctor told me that from my blood tests, he could tell that I was not eating. He then told me to go home, rest and eat. I'm homeless. And he knew that. I know doctors can't do anything and I could see the amazement and desperation in his face, but the reality is, I can not take the doctor's advice. I have no home to go and no food to eat.

So you're homeless & were hospitalised due to malnutrition but yet you would prefer to eat nothing rather than food donated from supermarkets?
You need to sort out your priorities.

FYI, supermarkets always threw out old food, it was only under pressure from charities & the public that they now donate some to charities. So I don't think it's a cynical marketing stunt.

corner of hells

Bobthefireman wrote: »

Waterford

If you are registered as homeless in Waterford there is support there.
Simon , Focus and housing first all are there.
If imagine SVdP are too and I thinks there is or was a soup kitchen.

FizzleSticks

This post has been deleted.

ScumLord

bubblypop wrote: »

FYI, supermarkets always threw out old food, it was only under pressure from charities & the public that they now donate some to charities. So I don't think it's a cynical marketing stunt.

Ya, they really didn't want to do it.

Deedeemazzy

suicide_circus wrote: »

Have you ever been to a properly poor or war ravaged country? This is paradise

sure but you're comparing it to the worst.
We are supposedly in a first world country and we certainly pay enough taxes...
but I believe that the country could be much better run than it is, on the taxes it brings in and the taxes it loses to wealthy bankers etc..
Different points of view... different perspectives I guess..
I think families shouldn't be living in hotels
and addicts shouldn't be shooting up on the street in telephone booths..
and I have a lot of other ideals..
so I'm comparing it to the best world we could have and you are comparing it to the worst.

Jayop

Didn't the french introduce a rule that Supermarkets can't throw out perfectly good food that's just gone past it's BB date and they have to give it to homeless services. If this food was in my fridge at home I'd still be eating it and it's perfectly fine. If all of this food that's thrown out in Ireland was given to homeless charities to provide food for those who need it then they would have more funds to spend on other things like clothing and housing.

Bobthefireman

god bless the innocence and arrogance.

ScumLord

I think it's completely possible that Ireland could completely eradicate homelessness and the worst of poverty. We have more than enough of everything, it's just managed in such a way that consolidates wealth into a strict hierarchical distribution. Society would generally like to see people suffer their mistakes rather than live a minimum quality of life.

We could easily make the bottom rung of the social ladder in Ireland such that everyone is guaranteed enough calories each day, basic health care, a roof over their head and a basic education. When you think about it we're halfway there.

Your Face

I agree.