I’ve been encouraged to see an increased focus on keeping food from going to waste when so many people are hungry.
In the Boston area, for example, Spoiler Alert and 2012 Mass Challenge winner Lovin’ Spoonfuls are just two of several local organizations moving leftovers and surplus to places they can be used. And how about Daily Table, which makes delicious prepared meals from surplus ingredients and sells the meals at low prices?
Meanwhile, in France, action is taking place on a national scale.
Writes NewCo Shift, “Back in 2014, the third largest supermarket chain in France, Intermarché, launched their memorable ‘Inglorious’ fruits and vegetables campaign. To help reduce ‘cosmetic’ food waste, Intermarché sold scarred, disfigured and odd-shaped fruits and vegetables for 30 per cent less than ‘normal-looking’ produce. On the back of their playful marketing and waste-conscious campaign, many supermarkets all over the world followed suit and wonky veg has been the unlikely pin-up of food waste ever since.
“[France was] the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food, forcing them to donate to food banks and charities instead. The law was a result of a grassroots campaign launched by councillor, Arash Derambarsh. After his petition gained more than 200,000 signatures and celebrity support in just four months, he managed to persuade French MP’s to adopt the regulation, which is now being copied in different parts of the world. Since the ban has been in place, over 300,000 tonnes of food has been saved from landfill and redistributed to France’s three networks of food banks. …
“Let’s not forget France’s most shimmering, sequin-laden, food-saving exports: Disco Soupe! Disco Soupe (or disco soup) has captured the imagination of the world, proving to be one of the most fun events out there, while reducing food waste. Strangers collide, music spins, food is saved from the clutches of the bin, chopped to the beat and eaten with rhythm.”
More at NewCo. If you like this topic, you can also subscribe to Zero Waste Weekly here. Do you tweet? You might like to follow the entertaining @UglyFruitAndVeg. Send your whimsical pictures of produce to those folks and join the fun.
Photo: Shift.NewCo.co
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
It’s good to see food that would otherwise go to waste being used to feed those having trouble making it out there. Nice post.
Knowing that others are doing this good work should help me be less wasteful in my own kitchen.
Your point about being less wasteful in our own kitchens is a good one–we’re pretty terrible about that and it makes me crazy! I love these stories you come up with, about changing attitudes toward food.
I come up with stories about people doing good things, but then I realize I better try to do better myself and not feel I’m off the hook because I shared a story. 🙂
Thank you for this post, I hadn’t realised France was so enlightened. It really leads the way with food waste!
I liked your own list of ways to control food waste. Everyone doing their bit is important, too.