I work in the health department of the municipality. We confiscate food and then throw it away with the garbage. Is there anything required of us? And what should we do?

The questioner : He says: May the Shaykh be respected, I work in the health department of the municipality. We confiscate food and then throw it away with the garbage. Is there anything required of us? And what should we do?

The Shaykh : Yes, there is nothing required of those who monitor spoiled food; rather, they are rewarded for it. This is because some people—may Allah grant us well-being—do not care if the food they have spoils, and they harm people with it. In fact, some of them—may Allah grant us well-being—place the inferior items at the bottom and the good ones on top. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . As for these items that are collected and are rotten, there is no harm in throwing them away, but they should be placed in special bags so that those who receive them can identify them and dispose of them in a specific place. However, I do not think that the municipality, which cleans the markets, would have any ritual impurities among the things they clean. Therefore, there is no harm in throwing these spoiled items away with the garbage. Yes.