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Is It a Sin to Waste Food?

Question:

Is it a sin to waste food?

Answer:

Yes, it’s wrong to deliberately waste food.

The Church indirectly addresses this general matter by speaking of our responsibility to help provide for the needs of our neighbors, including their need for food (CCC 2447).

Sadly, a good deal of food is wasted at restaurants, as many people are casual about not consuming the food they order.

Parents can instill an awareness of global solidarity by encouraging their children to be grateful for and consume the food they receive at home. Parents can also set a good example by not purchasing more food than the family needs, striving to make sure nothing goes to waste, and also periodically contributing nonperishable foodstuffs to parish food banks or similar entities.

Unfortunately, having worked for a major grocery chain, I’m aware that certain well-meaning laws actually hurt efforts to aid the poor, because they prevent the distribution of foods after expiration dates, even though the food will be edible for several more days.

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