Michael Gove, the UK’s Environment Secretary has announced a plan to use leftover food from supermarket giants that would otherwise go to waste and use the food to provide around 250 million meals for those in need. The plan is estimated to cost one-billion euros.
The food will be offered primarily to children in breakfast clubs, the elderly, disabled groups and those who are homeless.
“Nobody wants to see good food go to waste. It harms our environment, it’s bad for business – and it’s morally indefensible. Every year, around 100,000 tonnes of readily available and perfectly edible food is never eaten. This has got to change,” said Gove.
Supermarket chains are set to work with the government and charities to prevent food from going to waste with the main focus on fresh produce as opposed to cupboard products, and junk food will not be included in the plan.
“Michael is horrified by the amount of food going to waste. There are lots of groups out there who want to help, and many of the supermarkets are willing to co-operate. But there is a distribution problem of getting the food from where it is to the people who need it. That is where we believe there is a role for government,” said a spokesperson for Whitehall.
