[ropans808]

This is very interesting, I had never considered the impact free food at a large office has on its surroundings. The legislation certainly sounds backwards, but to me the situation is reminiscent of a company using profits from one sector to subsidize another, in order to drown out competitors in that space. I don't think Facebook is actually trying to kill off restaurants, but this is definitely how you would do it in an anti-competitive way.

[GordonS]

I don't see what's anticompetitive about it - surely they buy the food they give out from local retailers?

[sundaeofshock]

A food wholesaler and a restaurant are two entirely different businesses.

[patejam]

I think the idea is that it's still a local business that handles it. And it's locals who are hired to prepare the food, just like a local restaurant.

[GordonS]

What makes a restaurant a more 'worthy' business that a food retailer or wholesaler?