In response to the high demand, some Tafeln have had to reduce distribution days or the amount of food provided, operating under a continuous crisis mode.

Despite rescuing about 265,000 tons of food annually, Tafeln are facing challenges due to supermarkets adopting more sustainable practices, which has led to decreased food donations.

To counteract this decrease in donations, Tafeln are increasingly seeking food directly from manufacturers of unsold goods.

Andreas Steppuhn, chairman of Tafel Deutschland, has called on the government to combat poverty by ensuring crisis-proof wages, adequate pensions, affordable housing, and a well-funded child basic security system.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, about 60% of food banks have halted new registrations, affecting approximately 40,000 people in need.

Some food banks are on the verge of closure, struggling with insufficient food supply relative to the number of clients and rising operational costs.

Christian Barsig, head of a regional association, noted that not only must the quantity of food be adjusted, but the cost per food bag has also increased.

The first Tafel in Germany was established in Berlin over 30 years ago, and today, around 75,000 volunteers support approximately 975 food banks across the country.

These food banks, known as Tafeln, provide essential food donations to about 1.6 million people, highlighting a severe and escalating crisis in food assistance.

Currently, almost 40 percent of these food banks have temporary admission stops or are maintaining waiting lists, indicating a serious situation as they reach capacity limits.

Rising food prices, high rents, and persistent inflation are putting additional pressure on vulnerable populations, exacerbating the challenges faced by food banks.

Tafeln operate as volunteer organizations, aiming to supplement food needs through rescued food rather than providing full food security.