A couple of weeks ago, when Steve was out of town, I killed a Saturday putzing around the house and didn't leave to go on my normal errands until eight in the evening. Despite the hour, I took my time while shopping, browsing with the knowledge that no one was going to be bugging me to come home and wait on them. Bliss. I craved Chipotle, and panicked when I realized that I only had a few minutes to get my fajita burrito bowl before they closed. I walked through the doors four minutes before closing, regretting the time. I was sure that they would either have all the food put away for the night, or what was left would be substandard.
Wrong.
Every single food bin looked as if it had been recently stocked. The salsas and guacamole were fresh and heaping full, not discolored in the slightest. The beans didn't show any sign of dryness, and the meats all looked as if they had just come off the grill. I looked behind me toward the door as I finished my order and I asked the cashier, "What do you do with all this extra food?"
"We throw it away."
"What?! That's horrible!"
"We have to. That's the rule."
I shook my head in incredulity. There is a homeless shelter for women and children not even one mile down the road from this particular Chipotle outlet. I would guess that the leftovers of Saturday evening could have easily fed thirty or forty adults. I was pissed when I learned of the apparent waste of perfectly good food. I don't know if it's really the "rule" or not at Chipotle, but I'll tell you what, I'm damn sure going to find out. I know that Panera donates their unsold baked goods to schools and charities, and while I'll concede that guacamole looks scary when it isn't stored properly, that's a problem that can be easily remedied. This is a company with an entire page on their website devoted to Philanthropy, so I have to believe waste of this scope would interest them.
Ideas anyone?
