Food not Bombs... and War
You don't have to be rich to waste food: the global food waste scandal and what you can do with food leftovers after your party are subjects that you would probably agree are worth thinking and talking about.
You have parties, right? Well, I assume because you've stopped by Cater-Hater that you've planned to have at least one party. What will you do with your leftover food (assuming that you'll had any)?
This is a question that pops up from time-to-time. It's always something that I think about and ask clients about (and plan for), especially when I'm hired by a large corporate entity or mid-size business.
The video below underscores exactly why my thoughts about Genetically Modified Organism food (GMO's) are contrary to the lie that we're being told; when they try to get us to believe that without GMO's, there isn't (or won't be) enough food.
I ran across this cool TED video where a passionate-about-the-subject of food waste guy named, Tristram Stuart, who works with a range of NGOs, governments, and private enterprises to tackle the global food waste scandal, talks about this important subject. He's the author of, Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal.
In the TED video, he talks about how pigs began his interest on the subject of food waste -- which opened his eyes and caused him to look into to food waste, only to determine there is a big global food scandal. Stuart is the 2011 winner of The Sophie Prize, the international environment award, and founded "Feeding the 5000", which is a consciousness-raising campaign where he insures that 5000 people receive a free lunch via food made with ingredients that would have been throw away. In 2009 and 2011, his luncheon event was held in Trafalgar Square, and this event has been held internationally. Stuart explains how changing the systems that waste a lot of food, that are currently in place, could be the one of the simplest ways to rid the problem -- that would also take away the pressure on the environment.
He talks about the fact that Western countries waste up to half of their food. That's a lot of food being thrown out! I recently witnessed the my local Kroeger grocery store throwing away tomatoes that would have been very appreciated by a local soup kitchen. I felt completely helpless; I saw perfectly useful food being thrown in the trash. They would never allow me to take it, to give to an organization that could use it. I've inquired about what they throw away before. I'm always told that it's a "legal matter". Then I walk away thinking, isn't people starving right here in America a legal matter too? "Waste is certainly one of the most important environmental books to come out in years. But it is more than that. It is an indictment of our consumer culture that should make us all feel deeply ashamed. " - The Financial Times
"A comedian I heard recently made the point that we treat animals better than we treat fellow human beings. He was doing this in a humorous way, but there is a great deal of truth in this. Here we are worrying about the food we are wasting, and thinking about the poor and the hungry in our country, but then there is the food we serve to our pets; dry food, canned food, table scraps, and even treats. Don't most pets get fed better than some people? We are overweigiht people with overweight pets."
- Theodore A. Hoppe, TED.com commentor
They say that 1 out of 6 Americans goes to bed hungry. This is criminal; to throw away food when there are so many people, world-wide, dying (right as you read this) from hunger. If you host private parties or corporate special events, when you're planning your next event -- add into your plans; exactly what you'll do with your left-over food. Contact your local homeless shelters and soup kitchens to find out their donated food intake procedures.
You don't have to be rich to waste food: the global food waste scandal and what you can do with food leftovers after your party is important stuff.
Here are a list of links to use as your post-party food donation "go to" guide::
Food Donation: Feed People—Not Landfills
Food Banks and Food Recovery Organizations
Food Bank Locator
I'd really love to hear your opinions about the food waste scandal.
What advice do you have for positive and creative things to do with large amounts of food leftovers?
Do you believe there is a food shortage scandal going on? Or, do you think this is just a bunch of hogwash? And, tell me what you think about "engineered" food (GMO food)? Are you for it? Or, are you against it?
Sound out... leave a comment. Remember: some websites and blogs don't allow comments. Here on Cater-Hater, what you have to say is important.
Have a great weekend, everybody!
Encourage others and be encouraged,
Image source: Sterneck