Almost all say no
20 refuse it outright — but 1 takes it under conditions. Evidence: 21 direct.
Why shops refuse it
Food hygiene and date rules mean shops can't resell food.
What to do instead
Food banks take unopened, in-date, non-perishable food — most supermarkets have a collection point.
Charity by charity
-
Can't accept
British Heart Foundation
Their wording
“Perishable goods such as food and drink”
-
Can't accept
British Red Cross
A Food Standards Agency licence would be needed.
Their wording
“Foodstuffs”
-
Can't accept
Cancer Research UK
Their wording
“Perishable goods (incl. all food and drink)”
-
Can't accept
Claire House Children's Hospice
Their wording
“Perishable goods”
-
Can't accept
Cornwall Hospice Care
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
DEBRA
Their wording
“Foods”
-
Can't accept
Dorothy House
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Covers perishable food and drink.
Their wording
“Perishable goods (food and drink)”
-
Can't accept
Keech Hospice Care
Their wording
“Food”
-
Can't accept
Overgate Hospice
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
Princess Alice Hospice
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
Salvation Army (SATCoL)
Their wording
“perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
Save the Children
Their wording
“food”
-
Can't accept
Shaw Trust
Donors are redirected to local food banks.
Their wording
“local food banks”
-
Can't accept
Shelter
Their wording
“food and drink”
-
Can't accept
St Barnabas Hospice (Lincolnshire)
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
St Peter's Hospice
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drinks”
-
Can't accept
St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)
Their wording
“Perishable goods, food and drink”
-
Can't accept
Trinity Hospice (Blackpool)
Their wording
“Perishable items”
-
Can't accept
Wales Air Ambulance
Their wording
“Food or perishables”
-
Check first
Samaritans
Only sealed, unopened food and drink.
Their wording
“Food and drink”
Not mentioned in 23 charities' guidance
Absence from a charity's list doesn't mean they accept it — it just isn't singled out. Ask your local shop.
- Not mentioned Acorns Children's Hospice
- Not mentioned Age UK
- Not mentioned Barnardo's
- Not mentioned Crisis
- Not mentioned Dogs Trust
- Not mentioned Emmaus
- Not mentioned FARA Charity Shops
- Not mentioned LOROS Hospice
- Not mentioned Marie Curie
- Not mentioned Octavia Foundation
- Not mentioned Oxfam
- Not mentioned PDSA
- Not mentioned Phyllis Tuckwell
- Not mentioned Scope
- Not mentioned Sense Scotland
- Not mentioned St Christopher's Hospice
- Not mentioned St Giles Hospice
- Not mentioned Sue Ryder
- Not mentioned The Children's Trust
- Not mentioned Traid
- Not mentioned Willen Hospice
- Not mentioned Woodgreen Pets Charity
- Not mentioned YMCA (England & Wales)