STARBUCKS workers have revealed a new policy from the popular coffeehouse that is causing upset in the industry.
An employee who shared an image on social media wrote that “it hurts to see this”.
It comes as Starbucks has been seen making a number of changes this year[/caption]
The Starbucks worker shared this image on Reddit following one of their shifts[/caption]
In the image, a trash can full of bread, pastries and bagels can be seen.
The user wrote on the Starbucks subreddit: “I got the message from the manager tonight via my shift lead that we are no longer allowed to take any food from the pastry case before we clean it.”
They claimed it was due to a new policy the restaurant had introduced and were just informed about that night.
It meant employees could no longer take home left over food at the end of the day, which also left people in the comments upset.
The employee added: “The reason given was because it is seen as ‘stealing’, even though we are not allowed to sell it if it is out of the packaging.
“No one else is going to eat it. It is complete waste now.”
In response, one user wrote: “It’s also ridiculous that employees can’t take any home.
“Most lower level service employees don’t get paid that much and this would be a blessing if times are rough.”
Another commented: “Love how Starbucks talks about not wasting food yet does this everyday at every store.”
A third shared their thoughts as a former Starbucks employee: “What a waste.
“I worked there in college and I lived on take-home banana bread and cake pops.”
Differing perspectives on the post suggested how the issue is more the food safety and health codes, rather than food waste or “stealing”.
They said: “It is messed up, but it is actually a health code thing.
“There are strict rules that dictate what to do with unbought food.
“It does depend on the type of food, how it’s packaged, stored, etc.”
The user in the comments stated how food-borne illnesses are a risk concern for food companies who could be given a lawsuit.
They also added: “But it is totally possible that, instead of navigating the rules, whoever was in charge didn’t want to bother, so they just threw it all out.”
Food waste has been a concern for some time around the country and world.
Recycle Track Systems have recorded 16 billion pounds of food going to waste each year, with stores discarding food a contributing factor.
Additionally, this food waste increases costs for customers, as well as increasing energy waste when it goes to landfill.
Starbucks are reported to have made other efforts in reducing their food waste, such as partnering with Feeding America and other hunger relief organisations.
Through this, the company donates leftover food at the end of each day, however it is unclear weather unwrapped pastries in food cases are included in these donations.
These programs are said to divert millions of pounds of food from landfills, and have provided over 63 million meals.
Starbucks also purportedly participates in the US Food Waste Pact which aims to reduce food waste in operations by 50 per cent by 2030.
The Sun has contacted Starbucks for comment regarding the policy.
Starbucks Changes
STARBUCKS has made several changes in 2025 so far.
These include:
- 30% of food and beverage items being cut from the menu
- Self-serve condiment bars brought back
- Free refills of hot or iced brewed coffees
- Dine-in customers will be able to get drinks in a ceramic mug
- Open-door policy reversed
- Return of handwritten labels on to-go cups
