The Retail Council of Canada (RCCD) announces the establishment of an action group that will address the issues of food waste.
The main objective of this committee will be to report on current and future challenges in food preservation. Questions relating to packaging will also be addressed since the different levels of government are implementing packaging policies that have an impact on food preservation.
On the occasion of International Food Loss and Waste Awareness Day, the CCCD highlighted in a press release the work of food retailers in Quebec in the fight against food waste.
He indicates that around a hundred initiatives are in place in Quebec to limit losses. These projects are launched by players in the food industry, particularly at the processing or retail level. For example, the “supermarket recovery program allows food aid organizations to safely recover products before they reach their expiration date”.
According to 2022 data from Recyc-Québec, 1.2 million tonnes of edible food are lost or wasted annually in Quebec.
Food waste at retail and distribution represents 13% of all losses, indicates the CCCD. The problem is in the home, with households throwing away an average of 140 kg of food per year, which represents 28% of all losses.
In a Léger survey, the results of which were published in May 2022, 51% of Quebecers said they threw food simply by forgetting it in the refrigerator, the pantry or on the counter. The second most important cause is the expiration date, which is often misunderstood, with 40% of respondents citing this reason for waste.
Despite the many efforts, the CCCD recognizes that much work remains to be done to limit losses.