Objective:

To describe the location of food banks, their operation and their situation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology:

A review and compilation of data on food banks at an international level was carried out, statistical-descriptive tools were used to characterize their location and operation, and a diagnosis of their situation was made in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

Results:

Chronology showed that food banks expanded, first, in developed countries, and then in less developed countries. Towards the beginning of 2020, they carried out activities in 99 countries on the five continents, mainly in Europe, Asia and America. In 2018, 2,952 food banks distributed more than 2,179 million tons of food to more than 60 million beneficiaries and had the collaboration of approximately 150 thousands beneficiary organizations and 250 thousands volunteers. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, they continued to operate, redoubling their efforts to confront imbalances in the components of their operation.

Limitations:

Lack of standards for the collection and accounting of the components of the operation of food banks.

Conclusions:

As a result, of their territorial expansion and their important institutional framework, food banks have reached a very significant level of operation. Their response to the COVID-19 crisis confirms that they constitute a valuable tool to combat hunger and reduce food waste.

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