Retailers must adhere to food safety regulations to prevent illness from expired products, but this can result in large quantities of food being discarded. A recent incident involving a truck driver making a delivery to Walmart highlighted this issue, as thousands of pounds of food were set to be wasted.
What happened?
A truck driver, posting on r/LateStageCapitalism, revealed a large quantity of pork that was still safe to eat but was to be thrown away after Walmart rejected the delivery.
Photo Credit: Reddit
The driver mentioned that “over 2,000 pounds of fresh pork were refused by Walmart’s distribution center because its sell-by dates coincided with the store’s Thanksgiving closure.” Although the meat would remain safe for consumption for another 15 days, it was destined for the dumpster.
The trucker later clarified that there might have been a misunderstanding between Walmart and the meat supplier regarding the sell-by dates. Walmart had previously instructed them not to send products with those dates.
What are the implications of food waste?
Despite some valid reasons for discarding food, like preventing liability, this practice results in significant resource wastage and environmental harm. Feeding America reports that nearly 40% of food in the U.S. ends up uneaten or unsold, equivalent to 145 billion meals, leading to methane emissions when decomposed. Food waste contributes to 8% of global pollution.
Walmart’s Actions
Last year, Walmart announced a partnership with Denali, an organic materials recycler, to eliminate millions of pounds of food waste. The retailer aims to cut operational food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, while also regularly donating surplus edible food through organizations like Feeding America.
What initiatives are other companies taking?
Albertsons has collaborated with Uber to deliver excess food to food banks and offers discounts on surplus items. In San Francisco, ExtraFood collects unsold products from grocery stores and distributes them to nonprofits, ensuring that those in need receive the saved food.
Consumers can also play a role by composting food scraps and making smarter purchases to minimize waste. Join our free newsletter for positive news and practical tips for helping the planet.
