Industry tackles food waste

A new charity food collection initiative was launched to an audience of industry representatives and media at Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel this week.

The Food Donation Tool Kit is part of the national FoodWise campaign and the brainchild of activist group Do Something, founded by Jon Dee and former tennis champion Pat Cash.

The program aims to divert some of the 1.3 million tonnes of food waste from Australian businesses to the 1.2 million Australians without access to safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food (SecondBite).

Research shows that too many businesses are throwing away edible food because they wrongly think that they’re not allowed to donate it to those in need.

"With so many Australians going hungry, it’s a shame that companies waste so much food," said Dee.

"With the growth of food rescue programs from FoodBank, OzHarvest and SecondBite, companies of all sizes can now donate their good quality surplus food and feed people in need."

Figures show that 21.5 per cent of business waste is food, and only 30 per cent of this is waste left on the plate by customers.

Further information is available at the FoodWise website or the NSW Government website LoveFoodHateWaste.vic.gov.au.

Source: The Shout, 23 May 2012