France is the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from wasting unsold food. Under a new law that was passed in February, 2016, shops are required to donate edible leftover food to charity.
The French senate arrived at the unanimous decision following a campaign that was initiated by shoppers and anti-poverty campaigners.
According to a report in The Guardian, new supermarkets with a footprint of 4,305 sq ft or more will have to sign donation contracts with charities or face a penalty of €3,750 (Rs 2,82,000 approximately). Statistics indicate that nearly 7.1 million tonnes of food was being wasted in France annually.
Supermarkets that do not abide by the new rule will face fines up to €75,000 (Rs 56,35,000 approximately) or two years’ imprisonment.
In India, over 21 million tonnes of wheat is wasted every year. Even a small portion of this could potentially feed every hungry stomach in the country. Close to 40 % of the fruits and vegetables grown never make it to consumers. The reasons are corruption, bad transportation methods and shoddy storage systems. We believe that it’s about time that the Indian government passes a law to stop this travesty. Perhaps, a strong campaign will enable the required spark.
