Most of us abide by the 3-second rule on foods that aren't prone to picking up dust and dirt - If a piece of food falls on the floor, it's fair game as long as it doesn't stay on the floor for more than 3 seconds. That works out pretty well, assuming that you're not dealing with foods like hot wings or ice cream.
Freegans, on the other hand, abide by a completely different set of standards. Not only will they eat food off the floor or ground, they'll eat it out of the garbage. They LOOK for food in the garbage, hoping to find recent cast-offs that can be salvaged.
The article below discusses the general lifestyle and philosophy of Freegans, many of whom also believe in a person's right to have free lodging and remain voluntarily unemployed. My thought? It only takes one really bad case of food poisoning to put you in the hospital or even kill you. I definitely wouldn't risk it. And of course, I'm a little curious as to who will be paying the bill when these people do end up getting sick - since so many Freegans seem to advocate joblessness, too.
What do you think?
Sometimes the details make all the difference. My friend dumpster-dives at the local supermarket, where the dumpsters are emptied daily. I remember once he found two entire cases of candy bars, in the original boxes, that had passed their expiration date by one day. Law said the store had to throw 'em out. We kept the case he gave us in the freezer for a year without problems. You have to use your head tho-- I wouldn't eat meat that had been in the dumpster two minutes, even if it was in the original wrapper.
Wendy: I don't see any problem with re-using other stuff. In fact, I think it's great if someone can find a use for something that someone else is done with. I just think it's pretty disgusting when that attitude is turned to dumpster food.
Guess if it doesn't kill them, it sure boosts their immune systems...
To each their own... curb shopping on bulk pick up day used to be a regular event for those of us dwelling in pre gentrified lower east side squats in my adolescent days... but there's a limit to how deep I think one's hand can go in a dumpster before they should be considered in need of a bit of help in the form of medication. And Food? No way...