100 signatures reached
To: CEOs of all major supermarkets
Stop Cosmetic Standards Wasting Edible Food
Reduce the amount of edible food which is wasted due to not being deemed as perfect.
Why is this important?
After reading Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's article (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34647454) about the rejection of perfectly edible vegetables I knew that something really needs to be done.
On average 30% of edible food is wasted in the UK. This is due to many factors such as passing the 'best before end' date and cooking too much. However a huge proportion of food is wasted even before it reaches the supermarket's shelves.
According to the British Retail Consortium, 3 million tonnes of food is wasted before it leaves the farm. For example parsnips not having a perfectly straight shape are thrown away. 4 million portions of parsnips are wasted every year from a Norfolk farm because the Supermarket Client isn't happy enough with the shape.
It is very frustrating for so much to be wasted when it could for the very least be donated to food banks. Strict standards apply for 10 of the most popular types of fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes and strawberries.
Please sing this petition to show that you don't mind buying misshapen produce and feel that it is wrong to waste so much. Many families are struggling to provide food every day when thousands of tonnes are being thrown away.
