www.fusecon.com

[dmw]

Originally posted 2 September 1998 - dmw

I've always wondered where all the food in grocery stores goes when it reaches or comes close to its expiration date. Some probably goes to homeless shelters but obviously there is more food going bad then the homeless could possibly eat. It amazes me that grocery stores can make profits with all the overhead and food going bad. Anyone care to elaborate on the subject?

[dmw]

Reply 1: Posted on 5 February 1999 by Shelly (shellly1205@earthlink.net)

Sometimes it's discounted and sold...
Other times, it's sent back to the manufacturers I think.
I wonder what THEY do with it...

Reply 2: Posted on 9 April 1999 by AARON ALCORN (mabrandt@swbell.net)

The food or food product is sent back to the manufacturer and the store receives about 3/4 the price of what the item would sell for at there store. If you ever go in the back of a grocery store there is a rack for damaged or out dated items and that's what they do with it

Reply 3: Posted on 27 January 2000 by Bob Josephus

CVS doesnt give damaged food back to Manufacturers, just throws it out.

Reply 4: Posted on 12 April 2001 by Ral

The food is usually returned to the distributor for a fraction of the price back, like Aaron said. But as for it being donated to the homeless, etc., that's illegal in California, I think. Don't know about other states.

[flyingember]

depends on what it is. a lot of the stuff that the store sells with a date on it (like where you buy lunchmeats that they slice in the store) is tossed.

the rest tends to be sent back to the warehouse and from there the company.