Is dumpster diving for food safe?

The short answer: No – for many reasons!

The explanation: Driven by both the high cost of food and the desire to reduce food waste, dumpster diving behind commercial establishments has become viral on social media. Influencers are even recording themselves “rescuing” food items perceived to be safely edible.

While, for some, it is a way to more cheaply feed their families, for others, it is more of a political statement and even has a name: Freegranism; that is, the salvage or scavenging of discarded goods, including food, to protest mass waste.

Either way, however, there are a number of both food and health safety risks, as well as legal issues, in the practice:

• Food Safety/Health Risks. Discarded food has been discarded for a reason, often because they are past their labeled expiration date. While some of these dates indicate quality rather than safety, trashed perishable foods carry high risks of bacterial contamination, which can lead to foodborne illness. The food may also have been disposed of due to risks (such as temperature abuse, unlabeled allergens, recall alerts, pesticide use in the dumpster, etc.) even if the food still looks good. Consuming, or feeding these to your family, can carry significant risks.
• Physical Health. A person digging into a commercial trash bin can be exposed to bacteria, broken glass, wood and metal fragments, chemical residues, rodents, and insects – all of which can lead to injuries and/or infections from the contact.
• Legality. Dumpsters that are on a commercial establishment’s property are nearly always considered private property, including those in a loading zone or alleyway. Thus, entering a restricted or enclosed back area without permission is criminal trespassing; and because the contents of the dumpsters or trash bins are the legal property of the business, taking from them is actually theft. Additionally, many local health codes prohibit scavenging or tampering with commercial bins.

While social media posts and videos can make dumpster diving sound like a great way to supplement your grocery budget or protest food waste, there are numerous risks involved – even when you’re simply pulling from – not literally “diving” into – the dumpster

TAG can simplify your food safety and quality practices. Contact us for information!