Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the requirement to dispose of unused specialist invalid food products as medical waste on level of food waste.

Through the implementation of the NHS Clinical Waste Strategy and the National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink, NHS England is actively working to reduce both clinical and food waste across the system.

The Clinical Waste Strategy promotes appropriate waste segregation and treatment to minimise unnecessary incineration and environmental harm. Meanwhile, the food standards encourage healthcare providers to reduce food waste through improved planning, monitoring, and sustainable practices. It is widely accepted that any medication that is provided via clinical provision should be disposed of as offensive waste. Any unused food products that are still in their packaging can be disposed of through the agreed food waste system.

NHS England continues to monitor the implementation of these strategies and welcomes further evidence or insights that could inform future assessments or policy development in this area.