MP backs campaign to end scandal of unsold food being wasted, instead of donated to charities feeding hungry people

South Lakes MP Tim Farron is backing the #FoodOnPlates campaign to stop millions of tonnes of fresh, unsold food from being wasted, when it could instead go to charities and community groups feeding families.

Previously, the UK government funded a scheme that helped farmers and food producers tackle the problem of food waste. They did this by covering the additional costs for them to send their unsold food to charities.

This vital funding has been axed, and Tim is campaigning for the Government to urgently renew it.

The campaign is being led by food redistribution charity FareShare, who, in Tim's Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency last year, redistributed the equivalent of 355,500 meals via 18 local organisations. They are calling for funding that would enable them to nearly double the amount of food that they could provide to people across the UK, through saving surplus food.

Tim Farron said: "Charities and community organisations across the South Lakes have been working tirelessly to support our community with food throughout the pandemic and beyond.

"That's why I'm backing this really important campaign for funding for farmers to get their unsold fresh food to charities supporting vulnerable families, instead of having to waste it."

FareShare CEO Lindsay Boswell, said: "I'm very pleased to be working with Tim Farron. Our network of frontline charities have been a lifeline for families during the pandemic, and, sadly, demand now remains at similar levels.

"It's a scandal that good food is left to rot in our fields or be thrown into landfill when so many families are still dependent on food aid in the wake of the crisis, with thousands more unable to afford healthy fruit and veg.

"France rescues six times more unsold food that we do in the UK, in part thanks to tax breaks that cover the additional costs of getting that food to charities. That's why we're calling on the UK government to reinstate landmark funding to save good food and get it onto people's plates."