Food Not Bombs (FNB) is a global, loose-knit movement of independent collectives that distribute free, typically vegan and vegetarian food. The first collective was founded in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by members of the anti-nuclear movement who initially operated a soup kitchen as a form of street theater. Following this, the group dedicated themselves to feeding people full-time. In the late 1980s, the movement expanded to San Francisco during a local housing crisis, and by the early 1990s, dozens of active collectives had emerged across the United States and Canada, eventually growing into a global phenomenon with approximately 1,000 collectives in around 60 countries.
Often described as an anarchist or anarchist-inspired movement, Food Not Bombs operates under a franchise activism model. The collectives are guided by core principles such as veganism and vegetarianism, free food distribution, group autonomy, consensus decision-making, and nonviolent direct action. The volunteer base is highly diverse, frequently consisting of university students, migrant workers, punks, and unhoused or underemployed individuals.
In addition to daily food sharing, FNB collectives are active participants in major global protest movements, including the anti-globalization movement, the Occupy movement, the Black Lives Matter movement, and protests surrounding the Gaza war. Because they often share food in public spaces without official authorization, some collectives have faced legal repercussions, including citations and arrests. Scholars characterize FNB's work both as a transgressive form of political activism and as an altruistic practice of gift-giving.
