Food campaigners criticise unnecessary supermarket promotions

Food campaigners are calling on supermarkets to stop unnecessary food promotions after comments this morning from Prime Minister Gordon Brown that consumers should waste less food to combat rising prices.

Brown, speaking on his way to the G8 Summit in Japan, made the comments after a Cabinet Office report found that an average UK household throws away £8 of leftovers each week. He recommends that people should plan their meals in advance.

Kath Dalmeny (pictured), policy director of Sustain, the food and farming alliance, says: “Brown is right to say that wasting food also wastes money. But he appears to point the finger of blame only at individuals, rather than telling supermarkets that they need to sharpen up their practices. There is huge waste throughout the food supply chain, caused by “buy one get one free” promotions, and cosmetic standards for fresh produce.”

The report, Food Matters – Towards a Strategy for the 21st Century, looks at the different parts of the food system and at how they can be better integrated to improve its economic, social and environmental impact. It also looks at the role of central government, stakeholders and other tiers government, to develop a new food policy framework.

The Cabinet Office is setting up a Food Strategy Task Force, which include stakeholders such as the Food Standards Agency, to develop the new policy.