Cost of Living: Food Waste

Debate between Lord Harlech and Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury

Thursday 21st September 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords, I think I said in my opening Answer that it would cost an estimated £26,000 on average for a large company to start measuring food waste.

[Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Con)]

My Lords, is it not welcome that so many companies are ending putting the sell-by date on food, which became a kind of tyranny for consumers who felt they had to throw away food when they thought it was past its sell-by date, when in fact it was completely fresh? Is this not a forward and positive step?

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords, I quite agree with my noble friend. This is all part of rethinking how we buy and use food. It is incumbent on all of us to buy what we need and use what we buy. This will help us drive down food waste and reduce cost for businesses and individual households.