Why Did Fred Meyer Throw Out Thousands of Pounds of Food? | Eater Portland

"At the Hollywood Fred Meyer after the Valentine’s Day snowstorms, employees disposed of thousands of perishable items — packaged meats and cheeses, milk, tofu, and juice — following a power outage, which led activists to attempt to salvage a dumpster reportedly filled with thousands of pounds of groceries; store staff called the police, saying they were concerned about physical safety, while activists and mutual-aid volunteers say they checked food temperatures and inspected items and that around a half-dumpster’s worth was successfully redistributed to food-insecure Portlanders, free fridges, and mutual-aid kitchens. Fred Meyer later said some perishable food was no longer safe for donation and apologized for the confusion; a spokesperson confirmed the store had an outage lasting 48 hours (though it was unclear how that timing related to the disposal) and told reporters employees had reached out to food pantries but icy roads prevented pickups, with The Oregonian confirming two pantries could not collect groceries within the four-hour refrigerator-safety window. The episode sparked an intense online debate — some cited FEMA guidance and warned of foodborne illness, while others argued the food showed no signs of spoilage and criticized the chain for prioritizing liability and property over getting food to people in need." - Alex Frane