New York Food Police Making It Harder To Feed The Homeless
Written By: Rob Port
March 20th, 2012 - 1:45pm
The government’s war on fat people has opened a new front in New York City. According to new regulations, all food served to the homeless people must meet new nutritional guidelines. The problem is that the DHS can’t evaluate the nutrition of donated food, so now shelters can no longer accept it.
Meaning that, because some of the food donated might have been high in fat or salt content or something, some homeless people might not be getting any food at all.
For over a decade, Glenn Richter and his wife, Lenore, have led a team of food-delivery volunteers from Ohab Zedek, the Upper West Side Orthodox congregation.
They’ve brought freshly cooked, nutrient-rich surplus foods from synagogue events to homeless facilities in the neighborhood. (Disclosure: I know the food is so tasty because I’ve eaten it — I’m an OZ member.) The practice of donating such surplus food to homeless shelters is common among houses of worship in the city.
DHS Commissioner Seth Diamond says the ban on food donations is consistent with Mayor Bloomberg’s emphasis on improving nutrition for all New Yorkers. A new interagency document controls what can be served at facilities — dictating serving sizes as well as salt, fat and calorie contents, plus fiber minimums and condiment recommendations.
The city also cites food-safety issues with donations, but it’s clear that the real driver behind the ban is the Bloomberg dietary diktats.
Diamond insists that the institutional vendors hired by the shelters serve food that meets the rules but also tastes good; it just isn’t too salty. So, says the commissioner, the homeless really don’t need any of the synagogue’s food.
Glenn Richter’s experience suggests otherwise. He says the beneficiaries — many of them senior citizens recovering from drug and alcohol abuse — have always been appreciative of the treats he and other OZ members bring.
Donated food isn’t just about an additional treat for the needy, though. We know that the capacity for shelters and the like to serve the homeless and the needy is limited. Donated food fills a much-needed gap.
Also, health fascism aside, there’s an element here too of government crowding out private charity. I’ve written before about the trend in government inhibiting, if not outright banning, private efforts to feed the homeless. A lot of it has to do, I think, with human services and entitlements being a big chunk of the government’s pie, and the government not liking competition when it comes to serving the needy.
http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/new-york-food-police-making-it-harder-to-feed-the-homeless/ |
