# A qualitative exploration of community kitchens to reduce household food waste as a public health intervention

## TL;DR

This study explores how community kitchens in Leicestershire aim to reduce household food waste but finds that participants value them more for social benefits.

## Contribution

The study reveals a mismatch between the intended purpose of community kitchens and the actual participant motivations and benefits.

## Key findings

- Reducing household food waste was not the main reason participants attended community kitchens.
- Community kitchens were valued for providing social opportunities in an inclusive environment.
- Refocusing the kitchens on social benefits could improve their impact on health and wellbeing.

## Abstract

Household food waste (HHFW) has been described as a contemporary multifactorial problem impacting the environment, economy, society and health. Community kitchens have been found to have public health benefits for social wellbeing and nutrition. However, few community kitchens have been developed and implemented with the primary aim of reducing HHFW. This research focuses on the community kitchen scheme in Leicestershire that was established to engage individuals with HHFW issues and build community capacity to deal with food waste effectively and sustainably. The aims of the research were to explore how aligned the aims of the community kitchens were to the reasons why participants attend, and the benefits experienced from participating.

The research used a short survey of attendees (n = 33), observations of community kitchen sessions (n = 4) and individual semi-structured interviews with attendees (n = 14), volunteers (n = 3) and Borough Council staff (n = 2). Quantitative data was, analysed descriptively, and qualitative data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings suggest a gap between the reasons behind the development and implementation of the community kitchen scheme, their intended impact and the actual practices and benefits experienced by participants. Reducing HHFW was not found to be the core element, nor a reason for why people chose to attend. The community kitchens were, however, valued and considered worthwhile by participants, volunteers, and staff. In alignment with other data on the value of community kitchens, they were found to be beneficial particularly in terms of offering opportunities to socialise in an inclusive, supportive environment.

A refocus of the community kitchens as a scheme to provide social benefits, is likely to improve the scheme’s reach and subsequent contribution to the health and wellbeing of socially isolated individuals.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-25903-2.