Beyond Charity? Insights on the Upcycle Kitchen: A Food Rescue Work Integration Social Enterprise in Guelph, On

This research investigates a food rescue work integration social enterprise in Guelph, Ontario that upcycles surplus food into value-added products and meals. Charitable food aid organisations are widely criticised as stigmatising and ineffective by food insecurity and food waste scholars. We found that the Upcycle Kitchen's social enterprise approach to food upcycling reduced the stigma associated with feeding rejected food to marginalised people, and the root of food insecurity (income inadequacy) is addressed through a training and employment program. This approach represents a compelling alternative to charity, and might affect waste and hunger policies through public advocacy and education.