Think about the expired food you throw out of your refrigerator in a month. Now, imagine that amount multiplied by two and still fresh, being dumped into a trash can daily after every meal.
Blackburn’s dining and hospitality (Ding) catering company, Sodexo, cooks every day for approximately 600 students, not including the frequent community members and staff. There are multiple meals made in order to accommodate the crowd, and at the end of the night all the leftovers are thrown in the trash. The Ding workers are asked to throw away all food unless it is from the salad and deli bar, desserts tray, or healthy choice sidebar. Not everything can be saved and recooked when it comes to bulk food. It is understandable that there are certain health codes and regulations that have to be followed.
While the food waste does not seem to be directly affecting anyone, it can. Wasted food can financially affect the school. Since all of the food we buy is bought in bulk, more money is spent so that it can go in the trash.
Food is over prepared and unnecessary, causing plenty of food to be wasted on a daily basis, but it does not have to be. The leftover food can either be given away to the students at the end of serving periods or people can come and eat it for free. There are things that can be done to avoid throwing away food. According to Ken, a Sodexo cook, there are students who cannot afford a meal plan and do not have food at home that could benefit form the food that is wasted. One is to make sure that since we have a buffet style cafeteria is important to keep an eye on the levels of food out. If it is ten minutes until close and there is still food left, there is no need to make three new pizzas, a pot of scalloped potatoes, and extra cookies. The leftover food should be transported other places, but if not, community members should be able to come and eat for free. Also, finding a way that prepared foods can be reused and repurposed while keeping in mind the regulations would helpful. At the very least if waste can not be completely stopped, it definitely should be monitored for reduction or used to help those in need.