Around 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted worldwide each year, that is nearly 30% of all the food that is produced. To address this problem, the Spanish Congress has passed a law against food waste. It is the first law of its kind in Europe.
The law aims to reduce food waste for social, environmental, and economic reasons. Food production consumes a lot of water and energy and generates a lot of waste. That is why it is important to reduce waste.
The law requires bars and restaurants to offer customers the option of taking leftover food home in packaging. Supermarkets must donate their unsold products to social organizations. If this is not logistically possible, the surplus must be used for animal feed or biofuels. In addition, all companies in the food chain must implement plans to prevent food from ending up as waste.
The law also promotes the sale of aesthetically imperfect fruits and vegetables, as long as these products comply with health standards. In addition, stores are encouraged to promote seasonal, local, organic, and environmentally friendly products. The law also requires that the food with an upcoming expiration date be sold at a discount.
Companies that do not comply with the rules risk fines of €1,000 to €100,000.
Source: elpais.com