In Canada a large portion of donations to local food banks come from the food industry. In consideration of this it is important to evaluate the industry’s role in the food bank donation process. Food distributers who donate to food banks benefit from decreased landfill dumping fees as well as an improved corporate social responsibility profile (Rock et al, 2008). Recent proposals to create tax incentives for Canadian retailers who provide in-kind donations to local food banks have spurred a dialogue over the quality and appropriateness of foodstuffs donated by retailers to food banks (Mansfield, 2015). This research study evaluates the quality and consistency of in-kind donations made by large supermarket chains in the Fraser Valley to local food banks. As part of this, the study examines unusable food donations at food banks in the Eastern Fraser Valley and makes recommendations regarding the Industry Food Donation Tax Incentive.
