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'Stop wasting food', urges Brown 'Stop wasting food', urges Brown
(about 8 hours later)
Britons must stop wasting food in an effort to help combat rising living costs, Gordon Brown has said en route to the G8 summit in Japan. Britons must stop wasting food in an effort to help combat rising living costs, Gordon Brown has said as he travelled to the G8 summit in Japan.
Mr Brown said "unnecessary" purchases were contributing to price hikes, and urged people to plan meals in advance and store food properly. The PM said "unnecessary" purchases were contributing to price rises, and urged people to plan meals in advance and store food properly.
A Cabinet Office study on food policy reveals that the average UK household throws away £8 of leftovers a week. A government study found the UK wastes 4m tonnes of food every year, adding £420 to a family's shopping bills.
Rising prices and the world economy are due to dominate the annual G8 summit.Rising prices and the world economy are due to dominate the annual G8 summit.
BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said that for some time experts in food production and distribution had accused the government of not having a comprehensive food policy. The Cabinet Office report, due to be published later, claims that up to 40% of food harvested in developing countries can be lost before it is consumed, due to the inadequacies of processing, storage and transport.
"A hangover, they said, from the days of plenty when food mountains were the problem," said our correspondent. Biofuels
I am proposing that we take action to both increase the global supply of food and reduce unnecessary demand Prime Minister Gordon Brown class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5071&edition=1&ttl=20080707034134">Send us your comments The Cabinet Office report, due to be published later, points out that up to 40% of food harvested in developing countries can be lost before it is consumed, due to the inadequacies of processing, storage and transport. The food policy study also says the average UK household throws away £8 of leftovers a week, yet spends 9% of its income on food.
But there is a significant gap between the poorest tenth of the population, who spend 15% and the wealthiest, who pay out 7%.
I am proposing that we take action to both increase the global supply of food and reduce unnecessary demand Prime Minister Gordon Brown No such thing as a free lunch? The lost art of leftoversThrowing away yoghurt
Those on lower incomes also spend proportionally more on basics such as milk, eggs and bread - foods that have seen the biggest price rises in recent months.
According to the 10-month study, British families are throwing away a total of 4.1m tonnes of perfectly good food every year, costing each about £420 annually.
It also concludes more research is needed into whether the production of biofuels will cause food prices to increase further.It also concludes more research is needed into whether the production of biofuels will cause food prices to increase further.
Speaking to reporters, Gordon Brown said the G8 needed to agree a "global plan" to tackle the issue.Speaking to reporters, Gordon Brown said the G8 needed to agree a "global plan" to tackle the issue.
"That's why I am proposing that we take action to both increase the global supply of food and reduce unnecessary demand," he said."That's why I am proposing that we take action to both increase the global supply of food and reduce unnecessary demand," he said.
Climate change
"We will be discussing at the G8 how we can help Africa realise its great potential as a food producer and we would like to see production of key food stuffs in Africa double over the next 5-10 years.""We will be discussing at the G8 how we can help Africa realise its great potential as a food producer and we would like to see production of key food stuffs in Africa double over the next 5-10 years."
But he added: "If we are to get food prices down, we must also do more to deal with unnecessary demand such as by all of us doing more to cut our food waste which is costing the average household in Britain about £8 per week."But he added: "If we are to get food prices down, we must also do more to deal with unnecessary demand such as by all of us doing more to cut our food waste which is costing the average household in Britain about £8 per week."
Has Prudence left the Treasury to move into the nation's kitchens? Nick RobinsonBBC political editor Read Nick's blog in fullSend us your comments
Food will feature highly on a G8 agenda of issues including global economic turbulence, record oil prices, climate change and international aid.Food will feature highly on a G8 agenda of issues including global economic turbulence, record oil prices, climate change and international aid.
African leaders will join talks with G8 counterparts amid efforts to get previous G8 pledges to double aid by 2050 - notably to Africa - back on track.African leaders will join talks with G8 counterparts amid efforts to get previous G8 pledges to double aid by 2050 - notably to Africa - back on track.
UK Environment Secretary Hilary Benn said: "What we are trying to get across is there is this complex relationship between what we buy, the amount, waste, the impact on climate change and the impact on our health."
Friends of the Earth food campaigner Kirtana Chandrasekaran said tackling food waste was important, but only part of the solution. She called instead for changes to policies on biofuels and international trade.
She said there was "more and more evidence" that biofuels were bad for the environment, worsening climate change and leading to deforestation.
UK minister Hilary Benn on food waste
Steve Webb, the Lib Dems environment spokesman, said: "The problem of food waste has been made worse by the government's failure to get tough with supermarkets. Its cosy relationship with the big chains has stalled effective action.
"Supermarkets make it harder for householders to avoid food waste, while throwing away large quantities of edible food through poor stock management.
"They refuse to stock small portions, which are essential for the growing number of one-person households, and offer too many buy-one-get-one-free deals on perishable goods."

MOST WASTED FOOD

    Tonnes wasted every year % weight of all avoidable food waste 1 Potatoes 359,000 9.7% 2 Bread slices 328,000 8.8% 3 Apples 190,000 5.1% 4 Meat or fish mixed meals 161,000 4.2% 5 World breads (e.g. naan, tortilla) 102,000 2.7% 6 Vegetable mixed meals 96,000 2.6% 7 Pasta mixed meals 87,000 2.3% 8 Bread rolls/baguettes 86,000 2.3% 9 Rice mixed meals 85,000 2.3% 10 Mixed meals 85,000 2.3% Based on analysis of avoidable food waste, regardless of disposal method. Source: Wrap, The food we waste, April 2008 Food waste on 'staggering' scale