Chick-fil-A, famous for its crispy chicken sandwiches and signature hospitality, is at the center of a heated debate after a viral video sparked questions about the fast-food chain's food waste practices.

In the clip, shared on TikTok by a user named @jlucvss, an employee from a Chick-fil-A location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is seen discarding trays of chicken nuggets. The short video, captioned "What they do every night with the chicken nuggets at Chick-fil-A," quickly went viral, drawing over 7.4 million views before being taken down.

A Growing Debate on Food Waste

The video set off a storm of criticism online, with viewers expressing shock and disappointment over what many saw as unnecessary waste.

"This place just throws their food away; could legit end world hunger," commented one user.

Another added, "So many homeless people are starving, and you just casually toss food in the trash? Disgraceful."

Balancing Food Safety and Waste

Employees Speak Out

Adding fuel to the fire, former Chick-fil-A employees shared their own experiences online. One person commented, "Can confirm. We used to throw out so much chicken."

Another story from Reddit surfaced, showing bins of unsold cookies being discarded at a Chick-fil-A location. The post read, "The manager would throw away cookies every Saturday instead of giving them to employees."

Chick-fil-A's Food Waste Initiatives

Despite the backlash, Chick-fil-A highlights its efforts to minimize waste through its Shared Table program. Launched in 2012, the initiative connects restaurants with surplus food to community organizations serving those in need.

According to the company's website, Chick-fil-A also practices a "cook less, more often" approach to reduce unserved food. In response to the viral video, a spokesperson stated:

"Each restaurant follows high food safety standards. When food falls outside its hold time, it's no longer safe to donate or serve."

What's Your Take?

This incident has reignited conversations about food waste and the role of fast-food chains in addressing the issue. What do you think restaurants should do to tackle food waste responsibly? Share your thoughts and ideas—your voice matters!

Watch the video here:

(via Chick-fil-A , Luxury CeleB)

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