TRASH - It's What's For Dinner ?!?!

**Guest1** · 10-25-2004, 12:58 PM

I've been vegetarian....I've been vegan.....I'll have to draw the line at becoming "Freegan"!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,136091,00.html

Trash Holds Culinary Delights for Freegans
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
FOX News

NEW YORK — One person's trash is literally another person's treasure, if that person happens to be a freegan (search). They’re not vegans who refuse to eat meat or animal products; these people eat out of the garbage.

Freegans generally are activists. They believe we live in a capitalistic society gone mad where food, like so many other items, is needlessly tossed out.

Adam Weissman and some freegan friends, none of whom are homeless or destitute, dig through garbage for food in Manhattan's trendy Upper East Side (search). They refuse to economically support companies that make or sell the items, because they equate doing so with encouraging further exploitation of our natural resources.

"I'm saying we're too materialistic and it's ruining our lives,” Weissman said. "We're wasting enough food to literally feed every starving hungry person on the planet."

But one supermarket manager says the companies are not the ones being put out. "My first impression is personally I feel sorry for them because I don't think anyone would want to do that,” said store boss James Massari.

But the freegans aren't looking for pity, in fact they're sympathetic to the people who actually paid money for food they take home for free.

"It irks my sense of justice that things are getting thrown away that people can use," said Alexis Cole. Cole not only provides freegan food for her roommates, but has furnished most of her apartment through dumpster diving.

Do the freegans ever get sick? They say no, primarily because they take precautions like washing the fruits and vegetables and not eating anything that's spoiled.

**sunshine** · 10-25-2004, 01:04 PM

Oh, I've done that-- I've gotten canned goods that were dented, bottled grape juice- 6 pack with one broken one, cereal with boxes that were cut- but inner package intact, and lots of fruits and veggies.

**Ellise** · 10-25-2004, 01:37 PM

Good reading Debbie.

**Guest1** · 10-25-2004, 01:42 PM

OOPS - I hope nobody gets me wrong on this one - I'm ALL FOR dumpster diving.....but these folks (I also watched the FOX News report) are exclusive trash pickers for food.....I don't know - I just can't see me "shopping" exclusively in a trash bin...how would I use my coupons?!

**AmyMCGS** · 10-25-2004, 01:49 PM

Originally posted by Debbie
I just can't see me "shopping" exclusively in a trash bin...how would I use my coupons?!

I'm with ya.... dumpster diving is fine, but, there's no way that I would rely on that to be my only way of obtaining food. Apparently the people in the story are doing it by choice, not out of necessity. No thanks!

**kimmee** · 10-25-2004, 01:53 PM

God - Debbie - you just crack me up!!

I heard the other day, too, that Guinea pigs have become a delicasy (sp??) somewhere - didn't hear the whole thing but I think I would rather eat out of the dumpster - WITH the guinea pig!!