World Food Day Donations in Hungary

World Food Day has once again brought more than 20 trucks full of donated food into the heart of Budapest. As has been happening every year since 2006, the convoy, organized by FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association, made a short stop at Heroes’ Square before departing for the association’s warehouse to empty 90 tons of food.

World Food Day, which marks the founding of FAO in 1945, supports efforts to provide healthy nutrition for everyone – a vision reliant on sustainable agriculture and the protection of our natural resources.

The food carried by the convoy was donated by several Hungarian and international food producing and distributing companies that are long-standing partners of the Hungarian Food Bank Association. The products (pasta, biscuits and canned vegetables, all with long shelf lives) ultimately will go to some 36,000 needy people in Hungary.

“The theme for this year’s World Food Day (‘Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together’) underpins the need for joint actions, partnerships and solidarity for a better future,” Vladimir Rakhmanin, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative, said at the convoy’s press event. “This concept was developed before the pandemic broke out, which made the day’s theme even timelier.”

Over the past 15 years, FAO and the Hungarian Food Bank Association have collected more than 670 tons of food for needy families.

“The Hungarian Food Bank Association is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, as does the food convoy, which has so far helped the needy with a total of 674 tonnes of food,” Balázs Cseh, president of the association pointed out. “World Food Day and the recently proclaimed Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day are closely linked to our goal of raising awareness around the issues of waste and poverty. While the prolonged impacts of COVID-19 are causing greater hardship, it is even more important that food surplus gets to the right place – delivering help without putting a burden on our environment.”

Companies supporting the convoy: ALDI Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt., Auchan Retail Magyarország, Bio-Fungi ChefGomba, Bonafarm Csoport, Chef Market Food Service Company, Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország, Danone Magyarország Kft., Gyermelyi Zrt., HEINEKEN Hungária, Kifli.hu Online Szupermarket, Kometa '99 Zrt., Metro Kereskedelmi Kft., Nestlé Hungária Kft., Nissin Foods, NUMIL Hungary Tápszerkereskedelmi Kft., Pek-Snack Kft., Penny Market Magyarország, Rauch Hungária Kft., Tesco-Global Áruházak Zrt., Upfield Hungary Kft.