Across New Jersey, food insecurity and food waste exist side by side as two interconnected challenges that impact health, education, and economic stability. More than one million New Jersey residents struggle with consistent access to nutritious food, while millions of prepared meals from cafeterias, institutions, and event venues go uneaten each year. Johnson & Johnson is working to bridge this gap by investing in innovative collaborations that recover surplus food, strengthen local food systems and support communities where unmet needs are greatest.
Collaboration as a catalyst for health
At the center of this effort is Johnson & Johnson’s role as a founding member and supporter of the Meal Recovery Coalition (MRC), a first‑of‑its‑kind alliance working to make prepared meal recovery the norm across New Jersey. Launched by the nonprofit Share My Meals, the coalition brings together corporations, hospitals, community organizations, state agencies, academic institutions, and volunteers to redirect surplus meals to people who need them most.
In its first year, the Meal Recovery Coalition recovered and distributed more than one million prepared meals, with Johnson & Johnson playing a key role in convening partners, reducing cafeteria food waste, and engaging employees in service. Now, the coalition is working toward its new ambitious goal: recover 1.5 million surplus meals statewide in 2026.
The coalition is making even more progress thanks to a $500,000 two-year grant awarded in February by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Those funds will allow the MRC to scale meal recovery efforts in three identified food deserts in the state: Camden, Newark and New Brunswick.
“What makes this crisis so unacceptable is that it’s solvable,” said Helene Lanctuit, Chief Executive Officer of Share My Meals who enlisted Johnson & Johnson’s support for the Coalition’s work. “Every day in New Jersey, perfectly good meals are discarded while families and individuals go without. The numbers tell a stark story, but they also point to opportunity.”
For Johnson & Johnson, addressing food insecurity is inseparable from its mission to advance public health. Food insecurity is linked to higher rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression—outcomes that have ripple effects across healthcare systems, schools, and workplaces.
“When people lack consistent access to food, the consequences show up in emergency rooms, schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods,” said Tommy Lobben, Senior Manager, Home State Community Engagement for Johnson & Johnson. “Caring for New Jersey communities requires addressing fundamental needs like food security. Through the Meal Recovery Coalition, we can reduce waste in our cafeterias, provide nutritious meals to those in need, engage our employees, and help build stronger, healthier communities in the spirit of Our Credo.”
In recognition of the coalition’s one‑year anniversary, Johnson & Johnson brought nearly 90 leaders from across government, business, and the community food ecosystem to its Raritan campus to explore strategies for scaling meal recovery across the state. The convening highlighted progress to date and featured perspectives from partners, including the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate, community kitchen leaders and academic experts.
Setting new standards for food donation
One of the coalition’s most significant milestones is the release of the New Jersey Food Donation Guidelines, a first‑of‑its‑kind framework outlining best practices for safely donating prepared meals. Developed in collaboration with Rutgers University and a working group of 15 academic, public health, state, and food service partners, the guidelines provide clarity on cooling, storage, labeling, and transportation—removing long‑standing uncertainty that has prevented large cafeterias and institutional kitchens from donating surplus food.
The guidelines are currently under review by the state. If adopted, they will play a critical role in helping the coalition reach its ultimate mission of recovering all 5 million surplus prepared meals annually.
“Ensuring food is donated safely is essential for both public health and environmental sustainability,” said Sara Elnakib, PhD, MPH, RD, Chair of the Department of Family and Community Health Sciences at Rutgers University. “With clear guidelines in place, we can remove barriers to action and increase access to nutritious prepared meals for New Jerseyans.”
Beyond MRC: Improving access for local students and communities
Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to food security extends beyond meal recovery and is part of its broader efforts to improve access to education and essential needs for local students and communities. In April, the company donated $100,000 to Stockton University, which included $50,000 for nursing scholarships and $50,000 for the university’s Osprey Student Food Pantry and Housing Essentials program.
In addition, since 2009, Johnson & Johnson has worked alongside Rutgers, the City of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Community Farmers’ Market to connect students and local families with fresh produce, ready-to-eat meals and nutritional education, strengthening food access and community health.
These collaborations ensure New Jerseyans and future healthcare professionals have access to the basic resources they need to succeed and reinforce Johnson & Johnson’s belief that education, health, and food security are deeply interconnected.
Strengthening the food security infrastructure
Johnson & Johnson has also adopted a hands-on approach to strengthening the food security infrastructure through its support for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), the state’s largest anti-hunger organization.
In 2024, Johnson & Johnson provided funding for a new 26-foot box truck, expanding CFBNJ’s fleet and increasing its ability to deliver food efficiently to communities across the state. The truck is part of a larger public-private campaign to grow CFBNJ’s transportation network, from trucks and mobile panties to partner-direct delivery models, so food reaches local pantries and kitchens more quickly and reliably.
This investment builds on Johnson & Johnson’s longstanding efforts to create a more effective and sustainable food system across New Jersey. Over the past decade alone, Johnson & Johnson has worked with organizations like Elijah’s Promise in New Brunswick, where employees have dedicated thousands of volunteer hours, helped serve more than one million meals, processed tens of thousands of pounds of local produce, and supported programs that combine food access, nutrition education and workforce development.
“Johnson & Johnson has been supporting food security initiatives for nearly 30 years because we know that it’s a public health issue that affects families, students, and entire communities,” said Chris Guiton, Head, Home State Affairs, Johnson & Johnson. “By recovering nutritious meals, strengthening local food systems, and investing where needs are greatest, Johnson & Johnson is working alongside New Jersey communities to turn surplus into sustenance and ensure more people have the foundation they need to live healthier lives.”