{
  "id": 16581170,
  "title": "Elderly man seen picking up leftover food from Our Tampines Hub Hawker Centre, says he doesn't want food to go to waste",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/26/elderly-man-seen-picking-up-leftover-food-from-our-tampines-hub",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-26T09:37:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mothership",
    "slug": "mothership",
    "url": "https://mothership.sg/2026/10/elderly-man-pick-up-food-tampines-hawker/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A senior citizen, believed to be in his 60s or 70s, has been observed on a regular basis collecting discarded meals from the Our Tampines Hub Hawker Centre. A local informed Shin Min Daily News about this daily occurrence, noting the man was neatly dressed. When questioned about his actions, the man explained his motive was not to allow food to be wasted, and he packed it for his evening meal. This behavior could potentially classify as dumpster diving. The informant expressed concern over hygiene, as older individuals might not prioritize food safety when consuming leftovers. Several hawker centre employees have witnessed the elderly individual taking food, but have refrained from intervening due to the risk of conflict. Another elderly man in his 70s, also observed by a cleaner at the center, has engaged in the same practice for the past four to five years. This cleaner observed him purchasing beverages from the hawker centre as well, speculating he may not be facing financial hardship. This behavior is not an isolated incident; a different cleaner at People's Park Food Centre in Chinatown reported seeing multiple elderly men daily, roughly two to three, picking up food from tray return stations. A medical professional warned that consuming leftovers scavenged from hawker center tables could pose health risks such as food poisoning and the spread of infectious diseases. Cooked food left out for over two hours would become stale, and individuals with compromised immune systems would face heightened health risks.",
  "summary": "He is apparently not the only one doing it.",
  "key_points": [
    "Elderly man in his 60s or 70s collects discarded meals daily",
    "Man claims to prevent food waste and uses food for evening meal",
    "Concern over hygiene risks from consuming leftovers"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The recurring practice of seniors scavenging discarded meals highlights a growing tension between individual efforts to reduce waste and the significant public health risks posed by consuming unhygienic leftovers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}