Retailers try hard to keep food on the shelves and out of landfills, but they must follow strict food safety rules. This sometimes leads to a shocking amount of food being wasted. A truck driver recently shared a story about a delivery to Walmart where thousands of pounds of pork were rejected even though it was still safe to eat.
In a post on r/LateStageCapitalism, the trucker posted a photo of over 2,000 pounds of fresh pork, noting that Walmart turned it away because the sell-by dates fell during the Thanksgiving holiday when the stores would be closed. Although the meat was good for another 15 days, it was destined for the dumpster.
The driver later explained that Walmart had previously instructed not to send items with sell-by dates on November 25 and 26. The rejected pork could have been sold at a discount, or even stored for later use, instead of being wasted. Many commenters reacted strongly, expressing concern about the environmental impact of such waste.
Thankfully, there was a positive twist. The truck driver later updated that the pork would not go to waste after all. They were told to take the load to a different terminal in Denver, where it could be donated or sold to another buyer.
Why Does Food Waste Matter?
Food waste is a serious issue. Although there are reasons for throwing out food—like avoiding health risks—the reality is that it squanders resources and harms the environment. According to Feeding America, around 40% of food in the U.S. is wasted, which equals 145 billion meals. When food rots, it releases methane, a harmful gas that contributes to climate change.
Moreover, when retailers toss out food, it can lead to higher grocery prices and upset supply chains.
What Is Walmart Doing?
Walmart is aware of the issue and is trying to make changes. They teamed up with Denali, a company that recycles organic materials, to divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills. They aim to cut their food waste in half by 2030 and regularly donate edible food to food pantries, working with nonprofits like Feeding America.
Other Initiatives Against Food Waste
Other companies are also taking action. For instance, Albertsons has partnered with Uber to deliver excess food to food banks and offers discounted meals through the app Too Good To Go. In San Francisco, ExtraFood collects unsold items from grocery stores and redistributes them to nonprofits.
As consumers, we can also play a part. Composting scraps and shopping wisely are great ways to reduce food waste while saving money.
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