I frequently eat out, so when I heard that Too Good to Go, an app that allows restaurants to sell leftover unsold food to customers at a discount, had arrived in Detroit, I immediately signed up to try it.
The service covers many cities in 17 countries, and it was officially launched in Detroit on June 5.
Its arrival is timely as the share of families facing hunger is rising. The FDA estimates that as much as 40 percent of all prepared food is tossed, yet nearly 13 percent of U.S. households struggled to put three meals on the table in 2022. That’s significantly higher than the 10.2 percent of the population (13.5 million) deemed food insecure in 2021.
Too Good to Go aims to help restaurants, markets, and other food businesses reduce food waste worldwide. Founded in Denmark in 2015 by a group of young entrepreneurs who wanted to eliminate waste at restaurant buffets, the company boasts:
- 90 million people who have made purchases through its app
- 155,000 active partner businesses
- More than 300 million meals saved
In Michigan, 75 establishments have signed up so far, according to Sarah Soteroff, a spokeswoman for Too Good to Go. They each pay TGTG a transaction fee of $1.79 per meal sold.
Stores decide the cost of the meal; discounts of one-third to half off are recommended sweet spots. Although the money saved can be a significant incentive for customers, the primary goal is to reduce the amount of food going to landfills and greenhouse gas emissions, Soteroff said, noting that 5,000 meals have been saved in Michigan in the last month.
How it works: What is Too Good to Go?
Open the TGTG app to see a list of nearby restaurants, markets, or establishments that serve day-end or day-old food. App users will see a short description of the food, an address for pickup, and a price (usually $5-$8).
Customers pay through the app but must retrieve the food at the indicated time, usually between 3:30 and 5 p.m. The bag’s contents are a surprise, and customers have only an inkling of what food they’ll receive.
I tried the app for several days. Whenever I opened it, most restaurants listed were across the border in Windsor, where Too Good to Go has been established for two years. In metro Detroit, many bakeries popped up; I avoided most as I had little interest in old pastries. A couple of my favorite independent restaurants were listed, but there were a couple I hadn’t heard of.
Here’s what was in my “surprise” bags:
(Your results may vary.)
Day 1
Fresh Rootz, 97 W. Warren Ave., Detroit
- Chopped salad with spinach, lettuce, radish, kale, cabbage, dried cranberry and pistachio
Cost: $4.23
Savings: $7.77
The app told me I avoided the equivalent of 461 phone charges in carbon dioxide.
Day 2
3 Sisters Cafe, 13214 Hamilton Ave., Highland Park
- Meatloaf
- Macaroni and cheese
- Black-eyed peas
Cost: $5.29
Savings: $8.01
Day 3
Yum Village, 6500 Woodward, Detroit
My “small” lunch, which was enough for two meals, included:
- Jerk chicken
- Truffle oil greens
- Spicy rice
Cost: $5.29
Savings: $9.71
Cafe Noir, 9405 John R St., Detroit
- Ham and cheese sandwich
- Turkey and cheese sandwich
- Chocolate chip cookie
- Iced coffee
Cost: $7.41
Day 4
Treetop Grows Farm, 12254 Main St., Hamtramck
- Two bunches of collard greens
- One bunch of turnip greens
- One bunch of kale
- Cilantro
- One large radish
- Several carrots
- Onions
- A head of cabbage
Cost: $6.99
Savings: $55
The app told me that the carbon dioxide I avoided through this purchase was equivalent to 2,305 full smartphone charges, 50 cups of coffee, or 33 minutes of hot showering.
Day 5
Shu Market, Woodward and Canfield, Detroit
- Cherry tomatoes (two pints)
- A gallon of 2% milk
- Large bag of frozen vegetable soup
- Bag of apples
- Loaf of bread
- Bag of tortillas (eight-count)
- A head of lettuce
- Brussels sprouts
- Bell peppers (four red, two yellow)
- A dozen medium eggs
- Cucumbers (two 2-pound bags)
- Chili
Cost: $5.99
Savings: $67
There is no brick-and-mortar at this address; I was greeted by someone on the street who handed over a large box and bag of groceries. The app told me my purchase avoided carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to 60 cups of coffee, 2,766 phone charges or 40 minutes of showers.
Day 6
Zoe’s House of Pancakes, 25994 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak
- Boston Cream French toast with custard and chocolate syrup
- Two strips of bacon
- Scrambled eggs
Cost: $ 4.23
Savings: $6.98
Mootz Pizzeria, 1230 Library St, Detroit
- Order of garlic knots
- One can of pop
Cost: $5.29
Savings: $9.71
The verdict: Takeouts with a side of guilt
I discovered some new local restaurants, farms, and markets over the week and sliced my budget for food, which was my biggest monthly expense.
While I enjoyed all the meals I received, I felt as if I discovered a gem at Treetop Grows, an urban farm on a half-acre lot in a residential block in Hamtramck.
Tree, the owner of the lot next to her home, warmly greeted me and promptly sorted the bunches of organic produce — greens, carrots, radishes, onions — that she said was fresh out of the ground. “Do you like collards? You want some cilantro? I need to get rid of this stuff.”
I stuffed my bags while she told me the story of how she transitioned from corporate America to life as an urban farmer. I was pleased to learn that the farm doesn’t use synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides to grow its produce. Scientists say a lack of pesticides enhances biodiversity, results in better soil quality and reduces pollution from runoff.
My biggest “grab” came from a “market” the following day as I left with enough food to last me a while. The app told me I avoided the equivalent of 40 minutes of hot showers in emissions. Another benefit: For the second straight day, I was eating plant-based food, which has a much lower carbon footprint than animal products.
Of course, it’s never as easy as it seems. I signed up for Too Good to Go to mitigate food waste but was hyper-concerned about whether I was part of the problem or solution.
Some of my takeouts came with a side of guilt: Although I brought my own cotton totes to carry my food, an act encouraged on the app, I was hyper-aware of just how much packaging comes with restaurant carryout.
Although I always decline utensils on my takeout order, it was as if I was seeing the styrofoam and plastic containers in a new light. (Did I need separate containers for my eggs and French toast?) And much of the packaging wasn’t recyclable.
Some takeouts also came with too much food for one meal, so I either shared the wealth or had to freeze food. Too Good to Go’s Instagram page helped with tips on how to preserve food or recipes for certain ingredients that I didn’t know what to do with. One item was well past its expiration date, even for a frozen food.
I initially felt as if I was wasting gasoline during the week, so I had to plan my schedule around pickups. I stopped going out of my way to save a buck or a bagel. The app didn’t always present the amount of carbon dioxide I saved, a novelty that admittedly was an attraction and a motivation to continue. I decided not to let that deter my efforts to reduce waste.
Obviously, individual action alone won’t solve our climate crisis, but I’ll continue to try to do my part. I’ll use Too Good to Go again but primarily for markets and farms or on a road trip to Windsor.