Preventing Food Waste and Supporting Food Security

By Monica Dell

Last year, Brandeis Hospitality launched a partnership with Too Good To Go, a food waste prevention app that connects consumers with surplus food through discounted “Surprise Bags.” These bags provide affordable food options for the local community while preventing perfectly good items, such as bagels and salads, from going to waste.  

Since the program’s launch in June 2025, more than 900 meals have been saved, preventing an estimated 2.44 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Beyond reducing waste, the initiative also supports food insecurity efforts on campus. All proceeds from Too Good To Go sales are donated to the Brandeis Pantry at the end of each semester, generating a total of $1,391 in donations to date.  

Located in the Shapiro Campus Center, the Brandeis Pantry provides food assistance to University community members facing food insecurity. As Cathy Carlson, Program Director of Student Support and Initiatives, explained, “The Brandeis Pantry uses the gift funds for the purchase of food that is culturally significant to our student population, such as moong dahl and quinoa, which are not donated to us by the Centre Street Pantry in Newton, our primary source of staple food items.”

The partnership delivers benefits on multiple fronts: reducing food waste, increasing access to affordable meals, fighting food insecurity, and lowering environmental impacts. Through Too Good To Go, Brandeis Hospitality is helping strengthen both campus and community sustainability efforts.

To get started saving with Too Good To Go, visit your mobile device’s official app store.