Rochdale MP, Tony Lloyd, is calling on the Government to redirect surplus food to those worst affected by the cost-of-living crisis. 

Tony said, “No one wants to see good food go to waste, especially at a time when demand is so high. 

“Voluntary organisations in Rochdale and across the piece are under a significant amount of pressure 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.”

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. Tony 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.  

—Ends—

Notes for editors:-
• JPEG & PDF of the letter: https://fareshareuk.com/PMletter
• Latest food insecurity stats: https://foodfoundation.org.uk/initiatives/food-insecurity-tracking
• Latest food waste stats: https://www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-10/WWF-UK%20HIDDEN%20WASTE%20REPORT%202022_3.pdf
• Briefing on the £25 million ask: https://fareshare.org.uk/publicaffairs/
• If you would like FareShare council area or regional stats, or have any other questions, please email ali.gourley@fareshare.org.uk 

About FareShare 
FareShare is the UK’s largest charity fighting hunger and food waste. It takes good-to-eat surplus food from across the food industry, sorts it via 31 regional warehouses across the UK, and delivers it to a network of nearly 9,500 charities and community groups. These include food banks and pantries, hostels, refuges, community centres, older people’s lunch clubs, school clubs and hospices. During the last financial year, 2021-22, FareShare redistributed the equivalent of nearly 130 million meals – that’s 4 meals every second.