Too much and too little? Debates on surplus food redistribution

Contents
Summary..............................................................................................................(vi)
Recommendations...............................................................................................(ix)
1 Introduction.................................................................................................1
2. Surplus food redistribution: methods <strong>and</strong> food types............................3
2.1 Types of redistributed surplus food ..................................................................3
2.2 Methods of redistributing surplus food.............................................................3
2.2.1 Middlemen: transporting surplus perishable fresh <strong>and</strong> prepared
food to charities ..............................................................................................3
2.2.2 Surplus perishables transported direct from donor to charity .....................3
2.2.3 Food banks..............................................................................................4
2.2.4 Redistribution of agricultural surplus.........................................................4
3 Schemes redistributing surplus food in the UK........................................5
3.1 Middlemen.....................................................................................................5
3.1.1 Crisis FareShare ........................................................................................5
3.1.2 FoodDelivery ...........................................................................................6
3.2 Direct Store - Charity Liasion............................................................................7
3.3 Food Banks .....................................................................................................8
3.3.1 Grocery Aid (formerly Provision)...............................................................8
3.3.2 The South <strong>and</strong> West Lancashire Food Bank................................................9
3.4 Redistribution of Agricultural Surplus .............................................................10
3.4.1 The Intervention Board ..........................................................................10
3.5 How <strong>much</strong> food is redistributed, how many people benefit <strong>and</strong> at
what price?...................................................................................................10
3.5.1 The amount of redistributed surplus food ...............................................10
3.5.2 How many people benefit? ....................................................................11
3.5.3 The cost of redistribution........................................................................12
4 A comparison with other countries.........................................................13
4.1 United States.................................................................................................13
4.2 Canada .........................................................................................................15
4.3 Europe..........................................................................................................16
4.4 Australia .......................................................................................................17
5 Surplus food redistribution: the current debate ...................................19
5.1 Introduction..................................................................................................19
5.2 Feeding the hungry?......................................................................................19
5.2.1 The immediate benefit - food for those in need ......................................19
5.2.2 Surplus food redistribution: does it alleviate hunger? ..............................20
5.2.3 Private charity versus public welfare .......................................................23
5.2.4 Origins <strong>and</strong> development of surplus food redistribution ..........................24
5.2.5 How the schemes see themselves............................................................25
5.3 Saving waste .................................................................................................27
5.3.1 Less food for l<strong>and</strong>fill ..............................................................................27
5.3.2 Just another retailing opportunity? .........................................................28
5.4 Sharing <strong>and</strong> voluntarism: a practical way for the community
minded to help .............................................................................................31
5.5 Education .....................................................................................................31
5.51 An educational chance? ..........................................................................31
5.52 Eclipsing community food initiatives........................................................32
5.53 Food insecurity <strong>and</strong> hunger: a political or practical problem?....................33
6 Conclusions .......................................................................................................35
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Published by Sustain: The alliance for better food <strong>and</strong> farming - 2000
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