Concerns grow that fear of legal liability hinders efforts to reduce food waste in SA

There are growing concerns that fear of legal liability is hindering efforts to reduce food waste in South Africa, according to a legal expert.

Consultant in natural resources and environment practice Carly Fratelli Davie said that while expiry dates protect consumers, retailers, and suppliers also need protection.

ALSO READ: 1 in 5 households face hunger as South Africa wastes a third of its food

The United Nations (UN)'s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is to halve the global food waste by 2030, just five years away.

Fratelli Davie said South Africa will need a solution tailored to its own context.

The UN’s SDG aims to reduce global food waste by 50% by 2030.

South Africa's progress has been limited, as the country loses 10 million tonnes of edible food across the supply chain in the face of 13.8 million people suffering from food insecurity.

In September, the European Union (EU) revised their waste directive with concrete targets for member states – a 10% reduction in processing and manufacturing food waste and 30% for retailers, food services and households.

Fratelli Davie said the country needs more data collection before implementation.

"So, I think just understanding our landscape is really important before we try and implement measures that may work overseas, but there's no guarantee that it works here."

Fratelli Davie suggested that the issue bears much room for innovation.

JOIN US ON WHATSAPP

Stay ahead of the story: Join our WhatsApp channel today.

Want breaking news at your fingertips, the moment it happens? Our WhatsApp Channel is the fastest way to stay connected with the stories that matter most.

From breaking news alerts to exclusive stories, analysis and must-read features - you’ll get it all directly on your phone.

Joining is simple.

Just click Follow on our WhatsApp Channel and stay informed.