Davies: Food waste is 'throwing away money'

Chris Davies MEP

Rochdale Euro-MP Chris Davies is backing a call by the European Parliament for a plan to curb the waste of huge quantities of food.

Studies estimate that as much as 50 per cent of food gets wasted each year by supermarkets, food manufacturers and in homes.

A parliamentary report wants governments across Europe to set targets for reducing food waste. It recommends improvements at every stage of the food chain, including storage, processing and distribution.

The Liberal Democrat MEP described the current situation as "shocking".

Mr Davies said: “We are wasting 90 million tonnes of perfectly edible food each year, despite the fact that across Europe some 16 million people depend on charitable food handouts.

“Putting 50 per cent of all the food we produce in the bin is just throwing away money.”