Foodbank snaps up MasterChef leftovers

MasterChef has donated unused gourmet food from the show to food relief organisation Foodbank to pass on to charities and community groups.

At the end of the season, Foodbank collected leftover items like cheese and other dairy products, oils, herbs and spices and other premium ingredients that welfare agencies don’t often have access to.

Throughout the season, Foodbank said it also collected the “weird and wonderful fresh produce” left over either on the set or at the various locations where different episodes took place.

The Foodbank truck went as nearby as Lygon Street in Melbourne to as far afield as York in Western Australia to collect food.

“It was fantastic to see such a variety of high quality produce coming through the warehouse doors. It was always very popular with welfare agencies,” said Foodbank Victoria’s Peter Chalmers who managed the food collection from MasterChef.

The program’s winner, Emma Dean, and fellow finalists, Lynton Tapp and Samira El Khafir, also visited the Foodbank warehouse to see first-hand how the food would help those Australians less fortunate.

John Webster, CEO of Foodbank Australia, said many people were surprised that there are two million Australians who experience food insecurity each year, half of whom are children.

“Hunger is one of Australia’s best kept secrets and the lack of awareness is one of our biggest challenges. MasterChef has not only provided us with a generous donation of food but also helped put this hidden social issue on the public agenda,” he said.