Email Template reminding against food wastage in Ramadan in Restaurants/Buffets
Subject: Ramadan Mubarak!
Assalamu Alaykum waRahmatul Allah waBarakatuh,
Ramadan Mubarak! I pray that you are finding this Ramadan a period of spiritual growth and attainment. May Allah descend his blessings on you and your family.
I’m emailing as a follow-up to my experience at the Iftar at your restaurant yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Ramadan is about bringing people’s hearts together in the remembrance of Allah, and your restaurant has served as a medium for us to do us. May you be rewarded for this!
I also wanted to bring to your attention an issue that I encountered while I was there yesterday, and that I feel that Allah will hold me to account for if I don’t adequately voice. There was a massive amount of food wastage in the Ramadan iftar.
The blame is, against all customer-centric rhetoric, first and foremost on those dining. However, in an attempt to have husn al-Dhann in my fellow brothers and sisters, I will add that we often overestimate what we are capable of eating, particularly with a menu as appetizing as yours. To help your guests with this, I would encourage you to put up signs reminding them not to waste food, and to justify it from a spiritual lens.
I understand the prerogative to not permit, and the economics of not permitting, take-out containers in a buffet, but if the alternative is throwing this food away, I kindly request that you review this policy — at least in Ramadan. As per Canadian regulations, leftover food which has been served cannot be donated to those in need. A take-out container would help address this issue. Other restaurants are in the routine of charging for a take-out container, and you may consider this. However, know that your food will be feeding a Muslim and strengthening them during their fast as per suhoor, or feeding them following their fast for iftar… and the reward is great in either case. This may have extra costs implicated with it, but ethical behavior often comes at a cost. Regardless, I believe that this will be an amazing source of barakah in your business.
Muslim companies and individuals alike are encouraged to hold themselves accountable and serve as a role models for others to follow suit. Many are hungry where we find blessings in this beautiful month, and I am sure that this is not lost on one in the food industry.
Your brother,
X
