As of: February 25, 2024, 6:45 a.m
By: Anna-Lena Kiegerl, Nico Reiter
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Classic win-win situation: Some providers save food from the bin and offer it at a reduced price as so-called “savior bags”.
Bremen – Food waste is an increasing problem: According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, 11 million tons end up in the trash every year.
In addition to leftover food, this also includes inedible components.
In recent years, more and more providers are selling food that would otherwise have ended up in the trash at a reduced price.
A win-win situation for consumers and sellers, because while some pay less, others can generate income for products that would otherwise have ended up in the trash.
But where can you as a consumer find these offers?
Save food with Too Good To Go: On average, reporters only pay a third of the price
The best-known provider that provides rescue bags from restaurants, supermarkets, etc. to consumers is Too Good To Go.
Reporter Alex Koschek from the WDR-Servicezeit program tested various providers and saved a total of 15 food bags using the app.
On average, she only paid a third of the normal price and received a predominantly good selection and quality.
You can save a lot with a rescue bag.
(Symbolic image) © Westend61/Imago
For 4 euros, the reporter was allowed to help herself to a hotel's breakfast buffet and pack everything she wanted and fit into a one-liter box.
A saving of 18 euros, because breakfast in the hotel would otherwise cost 22 euros per person.
But it is not always easy to get hold of these coveted offers.
A student who also helps herself at the buffet knows this: “Offers like the one here with the hotel are always sold out very quickly, so you have to be lucky,” she explains.
Not just rescue bags: you can do this yourself to combat food waste
Shop consciously
Buy products with a short best before date if they are intended for the coming days
Trust your senses when a product has expired.
When it comes to fish or meat, the best before date should always be adhered to.
Other foods last almost forever.
When cutting vegetables, don't cut off too much
Cook fruit and vegetables before they go bad
Pack food at the restaurant and enjoy it the next day
(Source: Welthungerhilfe)
Save online and rescue bags at Lidl: These other offers are available
Another provider is Motatos.
Rescued food is offered online at a reasonable price.
Instead of being thrown away, 1.5 million products end up in the company's central warehouse every month.
These have packaging errors, short best-before dates or are surplus goods and can therefore be offered cheaper.
Koschek orders from the online retailer and saves a full 40 percent compared to conventional retailers with a minimum order value of 30 euros.
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Another way to save food from waste and save money is with rescue bags, which are available directly from supermarkets, discount stores or restaurants.
An example of this is Lidl.
Here Koschek was able to get hold of fruit and vegetable bags for three euros.
On average, these were half the price of traditional sales.
The bags mainly contain fruit and vegetables and sell out quickly, so it's worth getting there early.
The editorial team wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at its own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.