Last week, the French Parliament made a groundbreaking move by unanimously passing a law that prohibits supermarkets from discarding unsold food. Instead of tossing it out, these stores are now required to donate any edible food to charities. This is a brilliant initiative that should be adopted worldwide. However, consumers also hold significant responsibility in the fight against food waste.
It’s astonishing that in a nation where one in six Americans struggles with hunger, we still throw away tons of perfectly good food. The heartbreaking reality is that a third of the food produced globally is wasted. We have the capacity to end hunger, yet we’re filling landfills rather than nourishing those in need.
In the US, a major contributor to food waste is the confusion surrounding expiration dates. Many people don’t understand the differences between “sell by,” “best by,” and “use before” dates, including those who work in grocery stores. Dana Gunders, a scientist with the NRDC’s food and agriculture program, points out that “sell by” dates are meant for retailers, not consumers, and do not indicate food safety. How often have you hesitated to feed your child that yogurt simply because it was a few days past the date on the container? I know I have, even when it looked and smelled perfectly fine. The World Bank reveals that North America loses nearly half of its food production—42%—with much of this waste occurring at the consumption stage due to conscious decisions to discard food.
Shifting our focus back to supermarkets, it’s alarming that many stores routinely destroy unsold food by pouring bleach on it before disposal. This practice ensures that even those in dire need cannot salvage anything edible. The former food minister in France who championed the new law calls it “scandalous” to see bleach mixed with food waste. Under the new regulations, unsellable yet edible food must be donated, and larger stores are required to formalize partnerships with charities by July or face hefty fines or even jail time. Food deemed unsafe for consumption will be redirected to farms for animal feed or compost.
While supermarkets are responsible for about 10% of food waste, it’s crucial for all of us to buy only what we need, consume our leftovers, and make informed choices about food quality instead of relying on arbitrary expiration dates. Keeping track of what you throw away through composting can help you see the actual amount of food waste and the money being lost.
Fact: “We produce enough food to provide every person on Earth with 2,700 calories per day. Yet 842 million people still go to bed hungry.” This is simply unacceptable.
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In summary, the juxtaposition of hunger and food waste is a glaring issue that demands our attention and action. By understanding food labeling, supporting legislation aimed at reducing waste, and making conscientious choices in our homes, we can help bridge the gap between surplus and need.
Keyphrase: food waste and hunger
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