How Food Banks Operate in Ukraine
Food banks across Ukraine are actively collecting still-edible products from supermarkets and distributing them free of charge to vulnerable populations. According to available data, three out of every four recipients are pensioners. Each year, roughly 2.7 million tons of food that could still be consumed is thrown away in the country.
New Agreement Signed by the Ministry of Economy
In March 2026, Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy signed a landmark agreement compelling supermarkets to redirect unsold but safe-to-eat food to food banks. The state also plans to offer tax incentives to stores that participate in food donation, while imposing fines for discarding edible items. Supermarkets must set up dedicated storage areas, implement an IT system that alerts staff 48 hours before products expire, and assign personnel to handle sorting.
Three major food bank organizations currently operate in Ukraine:
- Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks
- Food Bank Ukraine
- The volunteer-run organization Tarilka
The largest of these, the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks, was founded four years ago and has already assisted nearly two million people, distributing 600 tons of food. Food Bank Ukraine, which has been active since 2011, feeds over two thousand people daily across eight regions. Tarilka, which began its work in Lviv in 2019, now also operates in Kyiv and Kherson, where up to 75% of its beneficiaries are elderly individuals.
A standard food package provided to recipients weighs between 15 and 30 kilograms and typically includes grains, pasta, flour, oil, canned goods, sugar, and salt, sometimes also fresh bread, dairy products, vegetables, or fruit. Some organizations additionally offer hot meals. To receive assistance, individuals must present documents such as a passport or ID card, a tax identification number, a pension certificate, or a disability certificate. Those registered as internally displaced persons (IDPs) need to show their displacement papers. Importantly, no income statements or bank records are required.
People seeking help can contact the Ukrainian Federation of Food Banks, Food Bank Ukraine, or Tarilka. As Iryna Polyakova explained,
“This isn’t expired food—it’s perfectly good products that simply didn’t sell in time.”There is no strict income cutoff for eligibility, but priority is given to those facing the greatest hardship.
Food banks in Ukraine play a critical role in reducing food waste while supporting socially vulnerable groups, especially pensioners. The new legislation governing food redistribution, along with incentives for supermarkets, has the potential to significantly improve nutrition for people in difficult circumstances. These efforts also highlight the growing importance of corporate social responsibility in Ukrainian society.