The Bowery Mission said it had to throw away a church’s donation of home-cooked fried chicken because of the trans fat ban.
Hungry, sure, but food is healthier
By the numbers
55
Percent of agencies that weren’t able to distribute enough food this year to meet demands, according to the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. That number is down from last year’s 69 percent thanks to a boost from federal stimulus funding.
37
Percent of employed workers having difficulty affording food, according to the Food Bank for New York City. Almost two-thirds of soup kitchens and food pantries saw an increase in the number of employed people accessing services.
87
Percent of soup kitchens and food pantries that saw an increase of recently unemployed individuals looking for help, the Food Bank said.
METRO/AZ
When a small church comes to the Bowery Mission bearing fried chicken with trans fat, unwittingly breaking the law, they’re told “thank you.” Then workers quietly chuck the food, mission director Tom Bastile said.
“It’s always hard for us to do,” Basile said. “We know we have to do it.”
A Manhattan deli going out of business delivered a pickup truck’s worth of lettuce, sundried tomatoes, hamburgers, sausages and other food to the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen last week.
With 1,400 meals to serve daily, Operations Manager Michael Ottley was extremely grateful. He didn’t check the trans fat content of the food.
Lines at soup kitchens are up by 21 percent this year, according to a NYC Coalition Against Hunger report released yesterday. The city’s law banishing trans fat took effect in July 2008 and touched everyone with Health Department food licenses — including emergency food providers.
Less than 5 percent of donated food still has the artificial fat, Ottley estimated, but he said, “I can’t in good conscience throw away food.”
