The lockdown measures undertaken to fight the COVID-19
coronavirus pandemic in the UK have led to reports of a rise in
food waste by local councils, with stockpiling blamed for some of
it. In response to this, the Chartered Trading Standards
Institute (CTSI) is assisting with the release of advice created
jointly by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Waste and
Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to consumers and businesses on
how to reduce it.
According to WRAP, the UK wastes 6.6 billion tonnes of food
annually. The WRAP report found that households are responsible
for more than 50 per cent of food waste, throwing away about 4.5m
tonnes each year at the cost of £700 per household. While this
figure is a sharp reduction on a decade prior, experts fear that
the effects of the pandemic may lead to it rising back
upwards.
The guidance encourages consumers to keep their fridges at
or below five degrees Celsius and to freeze leftovers and
products nearing its use-by date. Businesses are being encouraged
to simplify their labelling and provide clear and consistent
storage advice on their packages.
CTSI Chief Executive, Leon Livermore, said: "We mustn't
lose the gains we've made in combatting food waste in the UK over
the past decade. This advice for consumers and businesses will
not only help reduce the effects of the pandemic measures on food
waste but will also create a better-informed consumer and
business landscape.
"While I have been disgusted by the unscrupulous activities
of some companies, most have been a credit to UK business, and I
am confident that they will take on board this advice for the
good of our country."
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
The WRAP food waste report may be found at
this link.
Chartered Trading Standards Institute
(CTSI)
CTSI is a training and membership organisation that has
represented the interests of the Trading Standards profession
since 1881 nationally and internationally. We aim to raise the
profile of the profession while working towards fairer, better
informed and safer consumer and business communities.
