If I leave impersonal items in my hotel room, does the service staff get to keep them?

In quality hotels, NO. Leftover goods are supposed to be disposed of.

But in reality, no one is looking over their shoulders – even at the best hotels, and I am sure that stuff is taken for personal use.

It would definitely depend on what that hotels company policy is but other than that I think they would yeah.

I heard that they’re not supposed to keep the food items because it’s always possible that it was tampered with, intentionally or unintentionally.

I think if they’re unopened, they would probably take and use them.

If it’s the hotel’s policy, they may be afraid of being caught taking it and just throw it away.

Very few places compensate their employees enough to not help themselves. Very few of that majority would actively stop their employees from enjoying that meagre job benefit. Policy is for the lawyers. In reality, it’s free and no one cares.

I always write a thank you note to go with the tip I leave for housekeeping. I I am leaving additional food items I will mention in the thank you note. For example: “Please enjoy the fruit I left in the refrigerator. I cannot take it on the airplane with me.”

I also think it’s likely that it’s against policy for the staff to take anything or risk eating anything, but some of them might.

What if the customer calls saying they left an item and the employee took it or ate it? I once left a pair of shoes, and when I realized a couple of days later, they had my shoes and sent them to me.

I always leave a note with my tip like @LuckyGuy. I tip every day that housekeeping comes into the room I don’t wait until the end, but I also don’t have them come in daily. If the note clearly states to enjoy the cookies or please feel free to take the balloons, then maybe they can take those things.

You could ask the hotel so you know whether it will be a nice gift or just more stuff they need to clean up.

@LuckyGuy, I’m writing the note right now. Thanks.

Off topic: I hope your vacation, exploration, is going well.

Even if policy says it’s okay, I honestly would hope they’d throw it away even if you wrote a note.

I would never trust a stranger to be truthful and I’d assume the food was fucked with.

If they take it, that’s a bit stupid of them.

It is typically against policy. It is too much of a risk for the organization. I can’t speak for small mom and pop motel/hotels.
I have two in home AirBnb locations. I throw out ANY food related items. I send a note on any personal items and arrange for their return if they want it. If I do not hear back on personal items, I donate them.

I always left such things and a small thank you note when checking out. I assume half of it gets tossed but hoped some was used.

Most of the air B&B or VRBO rentals I have stayed at all had tons of stuff leftover from previous guests. Especially vacation rentals.

Doubtful. I can say that if I owned a hotel I would forbid it.