Collecting food in bulk - guidelines to catering Food Waste Heroes

We're working closely with food safety regulators to find practical solutions so we can safely collect more food. Please read the below important guidelines which explain how you must handle and portion bulk food.

Why do I need to portion bulk food going forward?

There is now a simple and compliant way for caterers and restaurants to donate bulk food (e.g. chicken wings, chips, cooked vegetables, cooked meals like stew, etc.) without providing a full ingredients list (only allergen information): by packaging it “in bulk” for volunteers to share between several requesters later. 

How much is a portion?

As the weight of a portion is not defined by food safety regulators, it is at the discretion of our business partners to determine this.

What do I need to do if I collect food in bulk?

When you collect at least 2 portions (i.e. servings) of bulk food packaged in the same container (e.g. a tupperware, or an aluminium tray), you need to:

• Make sure allergen information is available (on the container itself or on a separate allergen sheet, or has been shared in advance with Olio and added to the allergen page). Please raise an Issue Report Form with Olio if allergen information is not provided (and if a list of ingredients is not provided for individual portions).
• Indicate the name of the food in your listing as it is written on the container or the allergen sheet (except for loose bakery items)
• Indicate in the Quantity field of your listing how many portions (or servings) are available, approximately (at least 2 portions)
• Redistribute the food to at least 2 different requesters by portioning it into their own containers. 

⚠️  This does not apply to bakery items. Please follow these instructions for loose bakery items.

• If you share one part (ie. 1 portion) within a container, please keep the remaining content of the container in your fridge until this is shared with other requesters.
• Please note you are not expected to buy containers to share the portions with your requesters. Instead, your requesters should bring their own containers. Top tip: you can also use containers you do not need from home, but please ensure they are thoroughly cleaned first.
• Please handle the donations with care when transporting and we recommend bringing sturdy bags, to avoid any leaking or spillage.

How to portion food safely? 

1. Wash your hands thoroughly:
   • Ensure hands are cleaned for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
2. Disinfect surfaces:
   • Clean and disinfect the surfaces where containers will be placed, such as kitchen countertops.
3. Use clean utensils
   • Use clean utensils that are in good condition to transfer the food. 
4. Check containers:
   • Ensure that the requester’s container is clean and in good condition before transferring food into it.
5. Transfer food safely:
   • Directly transfer the desired amount of food from the business’s container into the requester’s container.

Why is this so important?

📄 Simpler process for businesses:

• When bulk food is portioned, businesses only need to provide allergen information instead of a full ingredients list. This means more and a wider variety of food can be donated more easily and quickly.  

👥 You Can Share with More People:

• Portioning bulk food allows you to share with multiple recipients rather than a single individual or household, increasing the number of people who benefit from the food.

Visual diagram of the process

Thank you for your cooperation and dedication to food safety!