The Unsold Charity

As a part of the national campaign against food waste, supermarket chains in France have been forbidden to destroy unsold food, but rather donate them to charities or farms. The amendment was approved by the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament and is a part of a larger environmental bill. The bill is likely to be passed in both the houses.

According to the bill, supermarket chains will donate goods to charities or farms for use as animal feed or compost goods that are no longer fit for sale such as damaged or wrongly packaged goods yet edible, or past a recommended use-by date but not dangerous to consume. Foods past the expiry date could be used in the farms.

Reducing waste in school cafeterias was among the other measures aimed at. Lawmakers opined that teaching children ways to reduce waste in their own kitchens, and abolishing expiry dates on food that aren’t perishable is inevitable.  According to the environmental groups, about 20 to 30 kg of food is wasted by an individual each year.

However, the Retail and Trade Federation says that they have been publicizing their efforts to fight waste by an advertising campaign encouraging consumers to buy ugly fruit and vegetables, so that the supermarkets wouldn’t have to toss them in the garage. They believe that the supermarkets are being targeted by the bill.

Socialist and lawmaker Guillaume Garon told the legislature, “This concerns our compatriots who suffer daily, which is intolerable in the 21st century.” He held a firm opinion that limiting waste is good not just for the environment, but also about the social justice for those going hungry.