Savoring surplus: effects of food rescue on recipients

Food rescue programs have the potential to reduce food waste and food insecurity. Since their inception, millions of pounds of perishable food have been redistributed. To date, little is known about how or whether recipients use rescued food. This paper reports on interviews with 29 food recipients in 5 public housing sites. Participants reported improvements to their perceived nutrition and food security, with virtually no food waste. Contrary to expectation, food rescue may increase rather than decrease recipient choice due to flexibility in spending stemming from budget relief. Results are being used to generate a questionnaire suitable for wider use to extend understanding of the effects of food rescue on food insecure populations.