Unserved Prepared Food Recovery Survey

Executive Summary

RESPONDENTS

• 67 total responses, 26 counties represented from across N.C.

• Respondents were made up of 39% Food Councils, 19% Non-profit organizations, 16%
  Religiously affiliated, 5% Independent food pantries, and 21% Other or unknown.

DONATING ORGANIZATIONS

Top 5 reported sources of donated prepared food and the percent of respondents
reporting donations.

WHY IS UNSERVED PREPARED FOOD NOT RECOVERED?

• “Probably for lack of clear guidance on liability…”

• “Unserved prepared foods are not being recovered out of local institutions because …
  of lack of information for those with the capabilities and opportunities to implement.”

WHAT ARE THE SUCCESSES?

Reported successes fell into 4 response categories:

• “I am seeing that one grocery store’s food waste along with food recovery from farms
  feeds over 200 families per day.”

• “More individuals have access to more food because the food is donated rather than
  discarded.”

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

Reported challenges were coded into 4 response categories:

• “For our agency, it would be manpower and transportation for pickup.”

• “The challenge we face is food donors’ fear of liability.”

• “We really need policy guidelines in writing from the state level.”