Five years of Tafel Austria: Anniversary in the Vienna wholesale market inspires 200 visitors

Five years of Tafel Austria: Anniversary in the Vienna wholesale market inspires 200 visitors

Liesing, Österreich - Five years ago the Tafel Austria in the headquarters in the Großmarkt Vienna and now celebrated this with an open house. Around 200 visitors took the opportunity to learn more about the valuable work of the organization, which supports people affected by poverty in social institutions with rescued food. The program offered an exciting insight into the warehouse, sociable exchange options for food and drink and the chance to acquire a "blackboard license".

Since its move, the table has built up productive cooperation with wholesale dealers. In 2024, impressive 1,578 tons of food were saved, including 217,000 kilograms from the Vienna wholesale market alone. In view of the increasing number of people who need help, the demand for particularly inexpensive fresh goods such as fruit and vegetables is understandably high - for many this often remains unreachable.

food rescue in the upswing

The activity of the board is not only a question of good will, but is also subject to strict food law provisions. As reports Tafel-oesterreich.at , non-profit organizations such as the board must comply with all security and hygiene-relevant requirements. From hygiene requirements comparable to those in a hospital kitchen, to comprehensive labeling obligations for donated foods - the challenges are diverse.

For the transfer of food to needy people, this often means a delay and additional hurdles. For example, donated baked goods require a complete list of allergens, while fruit and vegetables have to correspond to certain marketing standards. These regulations make the quick and uncomplicated help more difficult.

increasing demand and record numbers

According to the information from dietafeln.at , the need for help with the boards will become increasingly pressing, while at the same time hiking large amounts of enjoyable foods in the trash. In 2024, over 7,700 tons of food and goods of daily needs could be collected and distributed, which corresponds to a record high. At the same time, volunteers have done an impressive 438,000 hours to enable this important work.

The need for support is enormous in Austria: around 1.1 million people suffer from nutritional poverty, and almost 75,000 people are regularly supported by the tables. These numbers prove the necessary appeals to companies and trade to donate excess goods to achieve even more people.

Erwin Hehenberger, chairman of the table association, emphasizes that it is urgently necessary to preserve edible products from destruction. The aim of the Tafel network is to expand the range in order to be aside as possible many people who are affected by poverty and to further improve food transfer.