German consumer groups push for ban on supermarket food waste
German consumer groups would like to see a ban on supermarkets throwing away unsold food, the head of the national association representing consumer advice centres told dpa Sunday.
A legal solution, like a law recently passed in France, would make sense, Klaus Mueller said.
Many retailers and caterers already make donations to charities of food that can no longer be sold. "A legal duty would hit those black sheep who are not yet doing so willingly," Mueller said.
In a law passed in neighbouring France at the beginning of February, French retailers have to donate, process, use for animal feed or compost unsold food products.
The German government is not planning to follow suit, a statement from the Ministry for Food and Agriculture said.
A report by the ministry in 2012 found that 11 million tonnes of food from consumers, retail, industry and the gastronomy sector ended up in the bin. Of the total, 550,000 tonnes came from retail. Private households in contrast accounted for 6.7 million tonnes. (dpa)
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