Food salvage is a term for food gleaning programs that collect surplus food from restaurants and dining facilities and distribute it to local emergency food programs on a regular basis.
Some organizations, notably Fareshare in England, go further, and also work with food manufacturers to minimize food wastage. In 2005[1] 2,000 tonnes of food was saved from being wasted, This food was then redistributed to a community food network of 300 organizations. This food contributed to over 3.3 million meals to 12,000 disadvantaged people each day in 34 cities and towns across the UK.
In order for food salvage programs in the United States to operate within sanitary and legal guidelines, the Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act was passed in 1996.[2]