Cost of Living: Food Waste

Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville Excerpts

Thursday 21st September 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harlech (Con)]

My Lords, I think the noble Baroness stated the answer in her question. It makes good business sense for businesses to reduce their food waste and their costs, as that it is better for their bottom line, but we are not going to do something at the time of a cost of living crisis which could incur additional cost for consumers.

[Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (LD)]

My Lords, food is a necessity of life, not a luxury. For those struggling to feed their families, food waste, whether at the farm gate or on the supermarket shelf, is unacceptable. If the Government do not know the level of food waste, how will they ensure that food poverty is not increasing and that edible food is not going to landfill?