Final answer:
To calculate the variable food costs to be charged to other departments, multiply the actual number of meals served (15,000) by the budgeted cost per meal ($4), resulting in $60,000.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about how to allocate variable food costs for a service department within a company. In this case, Brooks Corporation had budgeted its variable cost at $4 per meal for an expected 14,000 meals in September but ended up serving 15,000 meals. To calculate the variable food costs to be charged to other departments, we would multiply the actual number of meals served by the budgeted variable cost per meal.
Therefore, the calculation is as follows:
Variable Cost per Meal = $4
Actual Meals Served = 15,000 meals
Total Variable Food Costs = Actual Meals Served X Variable Cost per Meal
Total Variable Food Costs = 15,000 meals x $4/meal
Total Variable Food Costs = $60,000
This is the amount that should be charged to the other departments for variable food costs.