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Food Waste in FranceMain MenuIntroduction and ContentsAn in-depth analysis of food waste with specific reference to France's new bill of legislationStatements to DebatesSkimming the surface of the controversyDebates to ActorsDivining Deeper into Food WasteActors to NetworksA visualization of the academic and non-academic networks of food wasteNetworks to LocationsA Story MapLocations to TimelinesWorks CitedChristopher Dabonb440b7f1abad781129e9d2d59f7cf69ae8aa7810
Dumpster divers and urban foraging
12016-02-09T16:05:26-08:00Christopher Dabonb440b7f1abad781129e9d2d59f7cf69ae8aa7810809611"How can one steal that which has been discarded?" (Abrahamsson, 2012).image_header2016-04-03T10:38:15-07:00Christopher Dabonb440b7f1abad781129e9d2d59f7cf69ae8aa7810Dumpster divers and urban foragers refer to people who search or scavenge for food. Typically those who take part in the practices are homeless people but the terms are not limited to them. One organization called Gars'pilleurs takes part in urban foraging. The organization founded in Lyon, France, collects thrown out garbage at night and redistributes it to homeless or those in need of food (Chrisafis, 2015). In some cases dumpster diving is considered a transgression. One example of this was seen in Belgium, where one man was arrested for acquiring muffins thrown out by a supermarket. This brought into question the diluted dichotomy between what is just and what is legal with regards to food waste. It also raises the question, can food left for waste really be stolen (Abrahamsson, 2012)?
Dumpster diving is seen as a cultural transgress. The act of rummaging through garbage for food is associated with shame and desperation. In contrast, Abrahamsson suggests that dumpster diving should not be seen as a having a negative connotation, instead should be seen as an act of rescue (Abrahamsson, 2012). One direct implication of the new French bill is that it will all but eliminate urban foraging in areas that facilitate large supermarkets, given that food deemed no longer of value to supermarkets will go directly to food banks or charities.