Optifast & FoodBank

In 2011 Nestlé Nutrition will donate $35,000 to Foodbank to help support the 2 million Australian’s battling with hunger at the other end of the scale. The donation in 2011 will contribute approximately 100,000 meals to Australians in need.

What is Foodbank?

Foodbank is by far the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia – last year alone Foodbank provided enough food for 25 million meals.

Foodbank is a non-denominational, non-profit organisation which acts as a pantry to the charities who feed the hungry. To do this, they rescue edible but unsaleable food from the country’s farmers, manufacturers and retailers. This includes product that is out of specification, close to date code, has incorrect labelling or damaged packaging as well as excess stock and deleted lines. Without Foodbank much of this food would simply go to landfill.

Foodbank is a conduit between the food industry’s surplus food and the welfare sector’s need. Food companies deliver their donations to warehouses around Australia – last year alone food companies provided 19 million kilograms of food and groceries.

Over 2,500 charities collect the donated food and distribute it to people in need as prepared meals, food hampers and emergency parcels. The food rescued by Foodbank feeds on average 70,000 people a day. Supply doesn’t always meet demand, however – in particular there is a significant gap between the amount of staple foods rescued and what is needed by the charities to provide filling and nutritious meals. So, in a collaborative supply program Foodbank partner with food companies who donate ingredients and services to produce, process, package and transport essential items such as breakfast cereals, pasta and sauce and tinned fruit and vegetables. Funds donated by the public and corporate sector provide the ‘glue’ which helps to stick these collaborative supply projects together.

Are there really hungry people in Australia?

Yes there are, but hunger is largely a hidden social problem and many victims suffer in silence. Each year two million Australians rely on food relief - around half of them are children.

It’s not just traditionally vulnerable people such as the homeless, but also the aged, single parents and the working poor. An individual or family could be going without meals to make ends meet in your street. When bills have to be paid, food becomes a discretionary item.

For more information visit: www.foodbank.com.au