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Finland's dumpster-diving chemistry teacher: "Best before dates are just recommendations"
yle ^

Posted on 01/22/2025 2:50:17 PM PST by nickcarraway

Yle catches up with a 'freegan' who's been using dumpsters to stock his pantry for years.

Teemu Arppe tells Yle that he loves a good find, which is why he dives into dumpsters for nearly all of his groceries.

The Helsinki-based chemistry teacher is also a self-professed 'freegan', which means he wants to help the environment by reducing waste.

"You never know what you'll find, and that's what makes dumpster diving so much fun," he said.

Arppe, who's been getting his dinner from dumpsters for years, says people are generally adopting a more positive attitude towards rescuing food.

Also known as blogger Onni Tonkija (roughly translated as the 'Lucky Scavenger'), he has been dumpster diving for food since 2011. He now travels across Finland, searching for edible finds in apartment buildings and store bins.

This past weekend, he spoke on the topic at a food waste festival in Oulu. Yle caught up with him to find the answers to five burning questions about the food we throw out.

1. Are people's attitudes changing?

"Dumpster diving isn’t popular enough yet for there to be a crowd forming at the bins. But I do occasionally see other divers. I can't say for sure if it's become more popular, but it feels like it might have," he said.

"People have realised that 'best before' dates are just recommendations. Stores have strict policies to discard food as soon as the sell–by date has passed. Awareness is steadily growing that these products are safe to consume if you smell and taste them first," he explained.

2. Are you seeing different products thrown out now than before?

"There's less ground meat in apartment building garbage rooms compared to ten years ago — instead you see more plant-based products."

3. What compelled you to start dumpster diving?

"I happened to peek into a dumpster in our apartment building — and noticed there was food in there. I hadn't realised people throw away food like that," he said.

"Many people worry about food making them sick if it's even slightly past its date. I encourage them to try it first — food can often still be eaten even if it's a little old."

4. What's the strangest thing that's happened when dumpster diving?

"One night, I went into the apartment building's waste compactor. I was rummaging when someone came in to throw out their trash. They screamed when they saw me and ran off before I could reassure them," Arppe recalled.

While Arppe also searches for food during the day, he said he prefers nights. "It's quieter then, and the atmosphere is magical."

5. What are your tips for someone wanting to get started?

"There's no better time than the present. Hit the dumpsters as soon as enthusiasm strikes."


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Hobbies
KEYWORDS: dumpsterdiving; finland
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To: SaveFerris

Do you like Worcestershire Sauce?

Just curious ...

It has a certain ingredient which is loathsome by itself but blends quite well with the other ingredients in the sauce.


21 posted on 01/22/2025 3:47:12 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

[Do you like Worcestershire Sauce?]

Well, I guess ya got me there - that one I do

But it doesn’t come off as “fishy” - but admittedly that’s just me


22 posted on 01/22/2025 3:48:36 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: SaveFerris

That’s the funny thing. It has anchovies ... but it doesn’t taste like anchovies. Some kind of arcane culinary wizardry is going on there.


23 posted on 01/22/2025 3:50:42 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: NorthMountain

Yeah - love the salty hit it does but one has to use it lightly


24 posted on 01/22/2025 3:53:32 PM PST by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 ... as it was in the Days of Lot; They did Eat, They Drank, They Bought, They Sold ......)
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To: nickcarraway

I used to eat barely touched burgers and fries out of the dishes when I was 16 and a dishwasher at Friendlys.

The sundaes would melt but sometimes i’d get what I could :)

Wasn’t all there from a very early age.


25 posted on 01/22/2025 3:59:11 PM PST by dp0622 (Tried a coup, a fake tax story, tramp slander, Russia nonsense, impeachment and a virus. They lost.)
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To: nickcarraway

For a short time I volunteered for a Riverside California non-profit organization that got free food from the state. I was stunned at how much food California throws away. Warehouses so full of food that they move it in pallets with fork lifts. They have just about any food you can find in any major grocery store.


26 posted on 01/22/2025 4:24:13 PM PST by know.your.why
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To: dp0622

Bear claws are good for at least a day. Or so they tell me.


27 posted on 01/22/2025 4:30:31 PM PST by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: blackdog

A local store had a similar problem, throwing out all of the frozen foods after a power outage. Food was still safe...but they called the police to guard the dumpsters.


28 posted on 01/22/2025 4:38:16 PM PST by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: Jonty30

Have you seen what passes for normal, lately?


29 posted on 01/22/2025 4:44:15 PM PST by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: MotorCityBuck

Twinkies are forever.


30 posted on 01/22/2025 4:46:10 PM PST by Cold_Red_Steel
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To: know.your.why

In the ‘90s I worked at a five star resort in HI. The leftover food from convention dinners and events were donated to churches and organizations that fed the homeless. It was AMAZING food!

The (socialist) state made that illegal and it had to stop. (WTF?) For us, it was OK ‘cause all the food went to the employee lunch room — no charge ever.


31 posted on 01/22/2025 4:54:38 PM PST by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: nickcarraway

Best done in a cooler climate. Finland is prime DD country.


32 posted on 01/22/2025 4:57:30 PM PST by The_Media_never_lie ( @whoisourPresident)
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To: nickcarraway

Not argueing about the dumpster diving aspect of this...

But the guy is traveling across Finland to find expired food cans? Finland is not exactly a cheap place to drive around from bin to bin. It would seem to me it probably costs more to eat for “free” than it is to just buy some groceries.


33 posted on 01/22/2025 5:33:43 PM PST by Organic Panic (Democrats. Memories as short as Joe Biden's eyes)
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To: nickcarraway

Well you’re living on the street and craving something hot
That’s simmering in a dumpster down by Popeye’s parking lot
Smell the rich aroma: a fragrance to entice
Of dirty deep fried chicken and dirty dirty rice

—Timbuk 3, Dirty Dirty Rice


34 posted on 01/22/2025 5:36:27 PM PST by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: nickcarraway

Good way to get real sick.


35 posted on 01/22/2025 5:36:36 PM PST by reasonisfaith (What are the personal implications if the Resurrection of Christ is a true event in history?)
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To: Paladin2

I visited Helsinki in January for work once. Ice and opaquely lit windows everywhere. I wouldn’t call twilight from 1000 to 1400 a “day” though.


36 posted on 01/22/2025 6:04:35 PM PST by mikey_hates_everything
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To: nickcarraway

Canned goods in particular have a very long shelf life, regardless of any best-use-by date. If kept in a cool, dark dry place they are good for over 25 years.

In 1969 I ate C Rations dated 1945. Many years ago a river boat was found at the bottom of some muddy river dating back to the 1800’s. Canned peaches were rescued from that wreck. They were opened and found to be good enough to eat.

Many places sell freeze dried meals with a shelf life of 30 years. I bet if properly stored that could be doubled. We buy Mountain House brand, and many of their meals are very good to the taste and filling.

When it comes to fresh foods, that’s where I’m picky.


37 posted on 01/22/2025 7:01:46 PM PST by redfreedom (May God save us from what the Democrats do in the name of good.)
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To: SkyDancer
Why does “sour cream” have an expiration date? Seems the older the better.
38 posted on 01/22/2025 7:05:15 PM PST by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va

Yep. The only way you know it’s going bad is the green or black spots which is bacteria.


39 posted on 01/22/2025 7:23:52 PM PST by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

Lately I’ve been rotating through my older tuna packets that are about 18 months past the “best buy” date. No issues.


40 posted on 01/22/2025 8:03:20 PM PST by The Duke (Not without incident.)
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