UK Government responds to supermarket food waste petition

The UK Government has responded to a petition signed by nearly 15,000 people calling for a ban on supermarkets throwing away edible food. The petition argued that surplus food approaching its best-before date or with minor imperfections should be donated to food banks and local charities to combat hunger and reduce environmental damage.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) stated that “nobody wants to see good food go to waste,” particularly as households face cost-of-living pressures. The government highlighted its existing Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy, which instructs businesses to prioritize the prevention of waste and the redistribution of edible surplus to those in need.

However, the government noted that supermarkets must maintain food safety standards. If food can no longer be guaranteed as safe for consumption, it cannot legally be redistributed and must be managed according to food safety requirements.