Reform of the best -before date required

The food waste in the country is to be halved by 2030. For this purpose, the country is further developing the nutritional strategy based on the measures plan for reducing food waste. It is planned to strengthen consumer education and reform the best before date.

"We have also to contain the unnecessary waste of food against the background since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. Since 2018, the state government has been committed to reducing food waste and for more food value. href = "https://mlr.baden-wuerttemberg.de/fileadmin/m-mlr/intern/pdfs/esse_und_trinken/2017_ern%C3%A4hnungsstrategie_bw.PDF" Class = "Link-External"> Nutrition strategy Baden-Württemberg (pdf). Based on the existing measures plan, the strategy is now being further developed to halve the waste of food by 2030, ”said the Minister for Nutrition, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection, Peter Hauk, on February 1, 2023, in Stuttgart.

worldwide every third food is wasted. In Germany alone, there are eleven million tons annually. At the same time, around 800 million people worldwide suffer from hunger. The majority of food waste in Germany is created in private households with 59 percent. That is 6.5 million tons annually. Calculously throws every single person away 78 kilograms of food a year.

"In addition, with the thrown away foods, all the valuable resources such as water and energy that have been used for food production are lost. It is neither ecologically, economically nor ethically justifiable that so many foods are still being thrown away," emphasized Minister Peter Hauk.

strengthening consumer formation

In avoiding food waste, more intensive clarification of consumers is important and can counteract the development of food waste and at the same time promote appreciative use of food. Therefore, the country will further strengthen consumer education. "We do not want to work with bids and prohibited, but give the mature consumer the opportunity to make even better decisions. A more intensive information from consumers is important and can counteract the development of food waste," said Minister Peter Hauk.

"People also have to rely on their senses and smell, see and taste, whether food is still good. Our approach must be to contain food waste further and create basics so that the food does not end up in the waste container," said Minister Hauk. With programs in daycare centers, kindergartens and schools, even the little ones would learn how to use food. But also through targeted consumer campaigns, such as the annual "Food Smaller Woche" Remaining recycling, targeted actions on the Internet and on social media as well as information events for canteen operators and restaurateurs continue to advance the country in order to give food more importantly and to contain food waste.

Reform of the best before date

After an examination by the Society for Consumer Research (GfK) indicate 20 percent that you can throw away food because the at least date of food (mhd) exceeds) was frequently without opening the product or checking again. The topic of the best before date still plays an important role in the waste of food.

"In its existing form, the MHD is commonly referred to as the expiry date. The term and handling of the MHDS often cause the erroneous assumption that foods are automatically inedible after expiry and are therefore chosen as unfavorable. The best -before date must be abolished in its existing form, because it is still a reason that too many foods are being thrown away. European Union (EU) finally wants to accept the topic, ”emphasized Minister Peter Hauk, who, as chairman of the consumer protection ministers conference, strongly for the fact that the federal government is committed to the EU Commission to even replace the term with a more understandable term or the minimum preservation date with a production date.

appreciation for food and producers

Reducing food waste is a challenge for society as a whole. The daily availability of food is not a matter of course and deserves more appreciation. The rural family businesses in Baden-Württemberg in particular produce high-quality food under very high environmental and social standards. Therefore, food and its producers also deserve the appreciation of society. "When foods end up in the bin, especially in meat, this counteracts any thoughts of animal welfare, the valuable work of our rural family businesses and the sustainable production of food. Throwing food into the bin that is looted by others. that our means of life do not end up in the bin, ”said Minister Peter Hauk.

Ministry of Nutrition, Rural Affair and Consumer Protection-Sustainable and enjoyable

Consumer Protection Minister Conference 2023