Ban all supermarkets from throwing away edible food & require their donation

Everyday, UK supermarkets throw away tonnes of edible food while millions of people rely on food banks to survive. We believe this is wrong, and that food that is safe to eat should not end up in bins when many families, pensioners, and workers are going hungry.

We call for the Government to ban all supermarkets from throwing away all edible food, and require them to donate any surplus food that is edible and is approaching the best-before-date or with minor imperfections to be donated to food banks and local charities. Ending food waste could reduce hunger, cut environmental damage, and show real social responsibility.

No one should go hungry while good food is thrown away.

Nobody wants to see good food go to waste, particularly at a time when many households are facing pressures from the cost of living. Food waste has environmental, economic and social impacts and the government is committed to reducing food waste across the supply chain and ensuring that surplus food is redistributed wherever possible.

Total UK food waste is approximately 10.2 million tonnes (Mt) annually. This includes waste from households and the supply chain. Household food waste (6.0Mt) accounts for 58% of the total. On-farm food waste is 1.6Mt (16%), manufacturing 1.4Mt (13%), hospitality and food service 1.1Mt (11%), and retail 0.2Mt (2%).

The government's Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy sets out how businesses should manage surplus food and waste. The priority is to prevent food waste occurring in the first place. Where surplus food does arise, businesses are expected to prioritise the safe and speedy redistribution of edible food to people in need before considering lower-value options. The guidance also includes the expectation that businesses should have plans in place for redistribution where surplus arises.

Food businesses, including supermarkets, are responsible for maintaining appropriate food safety standards and infrastructure. Decisions relating to store equipment, refrigeration systems and maintenance are therefore primarily matters for individual companies. Where food can no longer be guaranteed as safe for consumption, it cannot legally be redistributed and must be managed appropriately in accordance with food safety requirements. However, where food remains safe and suitable for people to eat, we expect businesses to follow the hierarchy and make every effort to ensure it is used rather than wasted.

More broadly, the government continues to support action across the food industry through WRAP's UK Food and Drink Pact and the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap. These programmes help businesses identify, measure and reduce food waste, set reduction targets, and increase the amount of surplus food made available to charities and redistribution organisations. Retailers participating in these voluntary programmes account for the vast majority of the UK grocery market and have demonstrated that significant reductions in food waste can be achieved through improved measurement and management.

On 13 May, the government reinforced its commitment to supporting those who need it most with the previous Prime Minister announcing a “new national programme to redistribute surplus food”. Defra is driving action through a range of activities, including working across government and with stakeholders to develop a national endeavour to end avoidable food waste, operating across the entire food supply chain and redistribution sector.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs