Food Wasted Equal to Food Sold in Supermarkets

7.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Aug 2009

Liberal Democrat research has revealed that as much food is thrown away from supermarkets, restaurants and homes as is bought by shoppers.

Government estimates, revealed in a Parliamentary answer, show that 18-20 million tonnes of food is wasted every year, 6.7m tonnes of which is thrown away by UK households. Equally, around 20m tonnes of food is bought by shoppers every year.

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, said:

"During this recession, we're all having to be careful about the amount of money that we spend on food. Yet supermarkets and restaurants are throwing away millions of tonnes of food every year. I'm sure individual households doing what they can to cut down on waste, but the country needs a strategy to address commercial food waste. It's shocking to learn that as much food is being wasted across the UK as is being sold in supermarkets.

"Most food thrown away will end up rotting in landfill, releasing potent greenhouse gasses.

"Supermarkets don't help individuals, in fact they encourage shoppers to buy too much food. Instead of offering Buy-One-Get-One-Free deals, why not just sell some products at half price? This would cut down food waste at household level, help the environment and also help shoppers by keeping their bills down."

The Parliamentary answer to the question tabled by Lib Dem MP Tim Farron is available here:

<http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090713/text/90713w0003.htm#0907135001270>