So much food, yet not enough for all

IT IS APPALLING to find out how much food in this country is wasted. And this when many people go to bed hungry at night, where the most substantial meal many children get is from feeding schemes at schools when these are in operation, and pupils and the families are not being fleeced by cynical bureaucrats and tenderpreneurs.

On the opposite page is an analysis piece about this country’s “shameful secret” – that 10 million tons of available food is trashed every year. Enough to fill six soccer stadiums.

And according to the research we are all to blame – whether the consumer is rich or poor, as well as everyone along the supply chain to get the food to the table.

It is heartbreaking to think that perfectly edible food worth billions either does not make it to market, or is discarded in landfill sites.

One can only applaud the individuals and organisations that go out of their way to collect surplus food from manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and distribute it to those in need.

Redesigning the entire food supply chain seems such a simple solution but probably has all sorts of challenges.

Not least of these would be the opposition from some producers and the sellers. If excess food is made available to those in need, free or at a reduced cost, then someone’s profits are going to be diminished.

But this should not put society off from looking for ways of getting excess food to those who could need it. If no child or adult was going hungry, perhaps one could hope for a kinder and healthier society, with less crime.

We can all make a difference. On the page opposite there is good advice offered on how we can reduce food wastage.

Elsewhere in the world restaurants have been lauded for putting food out for street people to take at no charge. Supermarkets could do the same.

Cutting down on waste can start today.