MPs call on government to deliver 100 million meals to those worst affected by cost of living crisis

10 November 2022

Funding that previously supported surplus food redistribution has been axed, and calls to renew it have been rejected. Over 50 MPs from across the house are supporting FareShare in calling for this funding to be reinstated.

• 57 MPs from across Parliament have written to the Prime Minister to redirect surplus food to those worst affected by the cost of living crisis.
• The government could deliver 100 million meals worth of food that is currently going to waste on our farms and in our fields directly to communities and people that are struggling.
• Food costs are at their highest in 14 years
• 7 million people across the UK are food insecure, a figure that has more than doubled since the start of the pandemic.
• Yet recent figures show that 2.9 million tonnes of good to eat food goes to waste every year on our farms and in our factories.

These MPs have signed a letter that was handed in to Downing Street this week, that asks the government to invest £25 million a year in surplus food redistribution. This funding would make it cost neutral for farmers to pick, package and transport their unsold surplus food to charity, rather than wasting it.

Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said: “The cost of living crisis has seen demand skyrocket, and we don’t have enough food to meet this demand. That’s why we launched the Cost of Living Crisis Appeal, so we can get more food to the communities that need it.”

In a recent survey of the 9,500 charities that receive food from FareShare, over 90% said demand for their services has increased since January due to the cost of living crisis. Three in four charities have also said that this influx is coming from people who are accessing support for the first time, with many seeking support despite being fully employed (reported by 51% of charities).

Lindsay continued: “As a charity we rely on the generosity of our partners in the food industry, fundraisers, and volunteers, but we also need the government to act immediately. At a time of so much need, it is wrong there is so much waste. Senior figures in government have repeatedly said that they support us at the dispatch box, but that support has not translated into actual funding. We need funding, and we need it now. I’m incredibly grateful to the MPs who have joined together from across the house to help us raise this issue at the centre of government.”

If you would like to support FareShare, you can do so by clicking here: https://fareshare.org.uk/costoflivingcrisisappeal1/

For more information on our policy briefing please visit https://fareshare.org.uk/publicaffairs/ or contact Ali.Gourley@fareshare.org.uk

For interview requests and media enquiries please contact kitty.langton@fareshare.org.uk

Download the letter as a PDF here