Walmart is doing something against wasting food, which is one of the biggest problems in the world. Each year millions of tons of food are wasted when they could have been consumed or donated. However, Walmart has come up with an innovative strategy to reduce this issue: using blast chilling. Thanks to this technology, the supermarket chain is making the most of its products and can donate millions of pounds of food to those who need it. So, let’s learn more about this wonderful initiative.
What’s the blast chilling Walmart is using?
This is a technique to rapidly cool hot food in machines called blast chillers, which lower the food temperature up to 40ºF in just 90 minutes. Why is this important? Because it prevents food from staying too long in the so-called “danger zone,” between 40 °F and 140 °F, where bacteria multiply quickly. So, by avoiding this, food stays safe to eat for much longer.
With this technology, Walmart has food ready to eat, like the famous rotisserie chicken, which lasts longer. A chicken normally is fresh for 4 hours, but with this process it can be conserved up to 3 extra days without losing flavor nor texture.
From the trash to the table
Before this invention, most foods ready to eat ended up in the trash after a few hours, but this will stop thanks to blasting chilling and Walmart will be able to resell them or donate them. Let’s see how this strategy works:
- Food that can be chilled → preserved and sold later or donated.
- Products close to expiration → offered at a discount in stores.
- If not sold → sent to Walmart’s donation program.
- If no longer safe to eat → recycled into animal feed, compost, or used in anaerobic digestion.
- Only what cannot be reused at all goes to landfills or incineration.
Let’s talk about figures
To see more clearly the impact of Walmart’s strategy:
- In 2023, Walmart donated 778 million pounds of food to food banks and charities across the U.S.
- It recycled 951 million pounds of food, with 578 million pounds going to animal feed.
- Still, 1.26 billion pounds ended up in landfills or incinerators.
- From 2016 to 2023, Walmart reduced food waste by 21%.
These numbers show that, even though there is still a lot of work to do, the company has achieved important advances and it has become one of the most transparent retailers in how it handles food waste.
Walmart and sustainability
This strategy is more than saving money and reducing waste, it also makes a strong social and environmental impact:
- Social impact: millions of families receive donated food that otherwise would have gone to waste.
- Environmental impact: less food waste means fewer greenhouse gas emissions from landfills.
- Economic impact: the company saves costs by making better use of the products it already has.
This way Walmart is a leader in sales and an example of sustainability and cooperative responsibility.
So…
Of course this blast chilling has made Walmart find a way to keep meals fresh longer, reduce waste, and donate millions of pounds of food every year. However, you, as a consumer, play a role too because every time you shop, you can choose to support companies like Walmart that are actively working to cut waste and make a difference for communities and the planet.
As you can see, simple actions can make a real difference. So, the next time you shop at Walmart, keep in mind that you can also contribute to a cleaner planet and stronger communities. Are you ready to start changing your choices and reducing food waste?