Sharing surplus food safely

A community fridge has opened in the entrance of a neighbourhood centre. Local shops and residents may leave surplus food for others to take without payment. Volunteers check labels and remove items that have passed their use-by dates. Cooked food prepared in private homes is not accepted because its storage history cannot be verified. The organisers hope the fridge will reduce waste and help people access useful ingredients, but they do not promise to provide a complete daily meal. They will record the amount of food donated and discarded each week. These records will help them adjust collection times and identify items that are rarely taken.