Peter Aldous has written to the Prime Minister, calling on the Government to redirect surplus food to those worst affected by the cost of living crisis.

The government could deliver 100 million meals worth of food that is currently going to waste on our farms and in our fields directly to communities and people that are struggling.

Food prices are rising faster than anytime during the last 14 years.

13.7 million people across the UK are food insecure, a figure that has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic. 

Yet recent figures show that 2.9 million tonnes of good to eat food goes to waste every year on our farms and in our factories.

Funding that previously supported surplus food redistribution has been axed, and calls to renew it have been rejected. Peter Aldous is supporting FareShare, the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, in calling for this funding to be reinstated.

They have joined 57 MPs from across the house in signing a letter that was handed in to Downing Street this week. The letter is part of FareShare’s Cost of Living Crisis Appeal, which asks the government to invest £25 million a year in surplus food redistribution, which would make it cost neutral for farmers to pick, package and transport their unsold surplus food to charity, rather than wasting it.

Peter Aldous said:

“No one wants to see good food go to waste, especially at a time when demand is so high. Voluntary organisations locally are under a significant amount of pressure at the moment, and are seeing an unprecedented level of demand for their services.”

“For a comparatively small amount of money, supporting food redistribution from farms would have a significant impact, with 100 million meals going to those who need it. Good food should be used to feed people rather than being wasted.”

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said:

“In Waveney last year, FareShare redistributed the equivalent of 76300 meals via 13 local organisations. As a result of the cost of living crisis we have seen demand skyrocket, and we don’t have enough food to meet this demand. That’s why we launched the Cost of Living Crisis Appeal, so we can get more food to the communities that need it.

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of our partners in the food industry, fundraisers, and volunteers, but we also need the government to act immediately. At a time of so much need, it is wrong there is so much waste. I’m incredibly grateful to Peter in helping us raise this issue at the centre of government.”

If you would like to support FareShare, you can do so by clicking here: https://fareshare.org.uk/costoflivingcrisisappeal1/