Scarcity at food bank due to economical supermarket: ‘Tomatoes with spots are now being sold’

“Companies try to prepare as much as possible themselves. That is good, but there is little left for us.“That’s how Marja van the Amstelveen food bank the problem together. Her observation is shared, also in Amsterdam and Krommenie they see the offer declining. Thus states customer Corrie Blanken that the supply of fresh products at her food bank, such as vegetables, fruit and meat, seems to be shrinking. “My doctor told me to eat healthier, but I don’t know what to pay for that.”

Wasting as little food as possible has been one of the core values ​​of the food bank since its foundation. It is a pursuit that is also being pursued by a growing number of entrepreneurs. Supermarkets introduced ‘throw-away discounts’ and through initiatives such as Too Good To Go, customers take the last few left home with them.

The policy is bearing fruit for supermarkets. The number of products that is wasted has decreased considerably in recent years, according to self-reports by supermarkets Albert Heijn, Aldi, Jumbo, Lidl and Plus. Whereas in 2018 3.6 percent of the food did not reach consumers, that percentage had more than halved by 2020 to 1.6 percent.

‘Twenty percent less’

The food bank is happy with the awareness about waste. Less fortunate is the shrinking number of products donated. Michel Sanders of the Amsterdam food bank estimates that the donations at his food bank In recent years have declined by 20 percent.

At the Amsterdam food bank, this decline mainly concerns fresh products. “We still get biscuits and pretzels, but healthy products are increasingly difficult, while we like to provide products for a healthy meal.”

Sanders cites several reasons for the decrease. “Many parties have gone to Ukraine because they felt that the need was greater there. There is also simply less production, because raw material prices are rising – supermarkets buy less. It is also noticeable that there are more empty shelves in the supermarket.”

Old cucumbers and tomatoes

But the decline has been noticeable for years, according to Sanders, because supermarkets want to waste less. “Of course you have the throw-away discount and Too Good To Go initiatives, but supermarkets have also become less strict with what they sell. Older cucumbers and tomatoes with specks are now sold, so less goes to us.”

According to Sanders, there is a competition going on with several initiatives for the remaining batches. Being alert and acting quickly is the key to getting enough. “If you get a call, you have to pick it up immediately that same day, or another initiative will take it.”

As many donations

Albert Heijn says it does indeed actively combat food waste, but does not donate less products to the food bank. According to the supermarket, the number of donations has remained roughly the same in recent years. The supermarket focuses its anti-waste campaigns on products that are not suitable for the food bank.

“An example of this is ‘AH Overblijvers'”, says a spokesperson. “These are packages with products that are left over at the end of the day and have an approaching best before date. We cannot/may not give the products in the packages to the food banks. These are often fresh/chilled products for which it is important that food safety and quality are preserved.”

The anti-waste app ‘Too Good To Go’ also states that they are in different waters than the Food Bank. Through the app, shops and restaurants offer their near-expiration products for little money.

Like Jan Disseldorp, who runs a culinary shop in Amsterdam. Every day he sells products via the app and he confirms that the app does not aim for the same products as the Food Bank. “The things I sell in this way are sandwiches, meals, salads, yogurt or milk. They all have too short a shelf life, so they are not suitable for the Food Bank. I don’t think that app gets in the way of the Food Bank.”

Increasing demand

Nevertheless, food banks are concerned, it seems that buying food from the Amsterdam food bank will soon be necessary. Spokesperson Oscarine Vonk calls it a worrying development. “What we buy is, due to inflation, also much more expensive. If we want to do that, more money has to come in.”

And that while the demand for food continues to rise, partly because the food bank decided this month to lower the threshold for receiving a food package.

“Even if the number of customers would remain the same, we would not be able to meet every demand,” says Vonk. Yet the food bank does not want to refuse anyone. “We never sell no. If a customer qualifies, they will be placed on the list. But that does mean that customers get less.”