
The bill would place a legal obligation on large supermarkets and manufacturers to donate surplus food to charities for redistribution to those in food poverty. It also seeks to incentivise other businesses and public bodies to donate their surplus.
The introduction of a UK version of the US Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (1996) would protect food donors and recipients from civil and criminal liability, except in cases of gross negligence/intential misconduct. Experiences in the US have shown that the act has removed any real or perceived barriers to food donation and facilitated redistribution to those in need.
The UK must urgently address the issue of food waste. Up to 50% of edible and healthy food is currently wasted and food waste in the EU is set to rise by 40% by 2020 if no action is taken. We already have some local voluntary efforts by supermarkets but we need to increase the scale of operation.
I am joining Kerry McCarthy MP in calling for a legal obligation to be placed on large supermarkets and manufacturers to redistribute surplus food. It is indefensible that, at a time when many people are struggling and 13 million are currently living in food poverty, vast amounts of food are going to waste.