This Food Was Too Ugly to Sell, But Just Wait Until You See The Good it Does

Don't judge a banana by its peel.

Thousands of pounds of food goes to waste every day simply because of small blemishes. But that one bruise or small mark doesn't mean the fruit or veggie is any less edible than the seemingly untouched one next to it.

Feeding the 5000 is a campaign run by Feedback. The organization strives to raise awareness and put an end to the global issue of food waste. According to their research, it's estimated that 3 billion people could be fed if we saved our food instead of throwing out what's left over or unwanted.

"America is a country which has a massive problem of food waste," Dominika Jarosz, the global campaigns manager, tells National Geographic. "Forty percent of the food isn't consumed."

The so-called 'ugly' food that consumers don't want at the supermarket might be the only source of food for another family. Feeding the 5000 is bringing that food back to the community by hosting meal-serving events worldwide.

And these aren't your everyday soup kitchens. Live DJs, cooking tutorials, and passionate workers come together to make these events special. Their goal is to make delicious meals, such as vegetable curry, to prove that unsightly food is just as tasty on the inside. After all, if we're being body positive about ourselves, we should do the same to the food we eat.

And the best part? All the food they give away is free. The food that doesn't get cooked and served is free for the taking, so those in need can walk away with their own fresh produce.

Currently, there aren't any upcoming events listed on their website, but you can still make a difference. Feedback is asking the public to sign this Food Waste Pledge, which calls for manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, and consumers to be more mindful of their food waste.

"It's up to us, the citizens of this country, of this world, to say we're fed up with food waste," Tristram Stuart, the founder of Feedback, tells National Geographic. "It's time to take food waste off the menu."

See how 5,000 people were fed with "ugly" food that otherwise would've gone to waste.