Since 2004, Barilla has donated over 3.1 million pounds of pasta through food rescue program

Barilla donated more than eight truckloads of nutritious pasta, the equivalent of 166,000 plates of pasta, to Food Bank of Iowa this past month. The relationship with Barilla is long-standing. Through Food Bank of Iowa’s food rescue program, Barilla has donated over 3.1 million pounds of pasta since 2004 or the equivalent of 2.5 million meals.

Food Bank of Iowa rescues safe, edible food which would otherwise clog landfills and gets it quickly to food insecure Iowans. The food bank has the infrastructure to receive truckloads of food, dry, cold, and frozen, keep it safe and distribute it quickly via an established network of 650 smaller frontline, hands-on partners.

COVID-19 presented a complex crisis which led to unprecedented food insecurity; needs remain elevated today. Without adequate nutrition, people are unable to function at their best. For adults, that can mean their health suffers or they might struggle to perform at work. For children, that can trigger growth, development and behavioral issues which last a lifetime. No matter the severity, food insecurity is a challenge which more than 400,000 Iowans face every day.

“We rely on donations to meet the nutrition needs of Iowans struggling to make ends meet.” said Michelle Book, CEO of Food Bank of Iowa. “Barilla is a high quality, nutritious product which we are delighted to provide to our pantries and clients are proud to serve their families.”

Barilla is committed to ensuring that food is not wasted if it is not needed as originally intended for retail. Barilla’s principle “Good for You, Good for the Planet” ensures zero food waste.

“As a family-owned Italian food company, we are guided by the belief that good, nutritious food should be available to all,” said Jean-Pierre Comte, President, Barilla Americas. “We’re an active supporter of meaningful community projects, including those that address food insecurity. We’re proud to leverage our great supply chain to make an impact in getting quality food to those who need it most.”

Food Bank of Iowa relies on volunteers to repackage bulk product and validate the quality of donated product. With this large amount of pasta, Food Bank of Iowa is asking for volunteers to help.

Contact Food Bank of Iowa’s Food Acquisition Program Manager, Emily Shearer, at 515-867-2894 with questions about the food rescue program. Sign up to volunteer at www.foodbankiowa.org/volunteer.