Food Recovery
Restaurants and food services can reduce waste, save disposal costs and benefit the community at the same time. Restaurants, hotels, and companies with foodservice operations can donate surplus food to the needy as part of their waste reduction programs. Establishing a food donation program is simple. Beyond the environmental and cost savings benefits of food donations, your company will have the satisfaction of knowing you have helped feed someone who otherwise might have gone hungry.
Did you know?
1 in 12 households in Wisconsin have an inadequate supply of food
Food waste is the second largest component of Wisconsin landfills
According to a USDA report, recovering 5% of food discards in America could feed an additional 4 million people each day.
There are two kinds of food donation programs that provide food to the needy:
Traditional food banks focus primarily on distributing large volumes of non-perishable food that is generally dried, canned, or prepackaged. Traditional food banks generally work with the food industry to distribute surplus food inventories or with institutions that hold "food drives" for the needy. Companies with excess nonperishable food may wish to contact a food bank for distribution.
Food Recovery Programs accept prepared and perishable food and redistribute small or larger volumes of freshly prepared foods and perishables to food pantries, shelters, meal sites, and group homes. In the past decade, food recovery programs have become an increasingly common way for businesses such as restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, schools and institutions, and others to donate surplus food to the needy.
The Food Pantry of Waukesha County, located at 215 West North Street in Waukesha, operates both kinds of donation programs and serves as a distribution hub for smaller food pantries in the county as well. They have large coolers and freezers and can store perishable food for distribution to outlying communities. Services offered include:
Free pick-up.
Trained food handlers. Employees and volunteers working for food programs are trained in sanitation, food inspection and sorting, and food handling.
Publicity. If your company would like, the Food Pantry will publicize your support.
Your donation may be tax deductible. You can get a receipt from the Food Pantry.
Call the Food Pantry of Waukesha County at 262-542-5300 for more information or for a tour of the facility.
Donor Responsibilities
Food recovery programs only accept unserved food that can be safely transported and served. If you are planning to make a donation to the Food Pantry, you should:
Ensure that the food is within the expiration date
Keep food at a safe temperature (below 40 or above 140 degrees)
Check the food for signs of spoilage
It is important to ensure that food is not left in the temperature "danger zone" (between 40 and 140 degrees) for more than two hours.
Common Concerns
Am I liable for damages if the food spoils or causes injury, even if I have stored it properly?
Federal and Wisconsin laws, called the Good Samaritan Law, protect your company from liability when you donate food that you believe to be safe and edible. To view Wisconsin Statute 895.51, click here.
Will I need to provide my employees with special training to prepare food for donation?
Since your kitchen or cafeteria staff should already be knowledgeable about safe food handling practices, additional training will most likely be unnecessary. In addition, food recovery program staff is trained in proper food handling, sorting, and transportation. If your restaurant or retail food establishment has questions about proper food handling, please call the Waukesha County Division of Environmental Health at 262-896-8300.
Will preparing food for donation require extra time?
Many companies that participate in prepared/perishable food donation programs say that little additional time or help is needed to prepare food for donation - employees simply perform a different task.
Food Recovery of Waukesha County Partners:
Food Pantry of Waukesha County
Waukesha County Extension
Waukesha County Parks and Land Use
Additional resources and case studies can be found at: