Chef Tom Kerridge, the Michelin-starred restaurateur, is making headlines with his latest initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity in the UK. He has joined forces with various charities to call for the delivery of a promised £15 million fund dedicated to rechanneling surplus fresh food from farms to food banks and soup kitchens throughout the country.
Historically, there have been repeated assurances from former ministers regarding funding for this food waste reduction scheme, which is designed to reimburse farmers for costs related to the harvest, storage, and packaging of food that would otherwise be wasted or used as animal feed. This initiative was initially proposed by Michael Gove during his tenure as environment secretary in 2018 and reaffirmed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this year, yet the funds have not materialized.
In an open letter directed to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Kerridge stands alongside thousands of local charities urging that this scheme be included in the upcoming budget. The chef, who grew up on a council estate in Gloucester and often cooked for his brother while their mother worked multiple jobs, emphasized the necessity of this program to combat food waste and support struggling communities.
“These charities are the heartbeat of their communities, and they desperately need more food to assist those in need,” he explained. “The government must act to ensure that the staggering amounts of surplus, edible food are transformed into meals for families facing hardship, rather than allowing it to go to waste.”
Farmers are generally eager to redistribute their surplus, but charities point out that a designated fund is essential to help cover the associated costs, as redistributing food is often more expensive than simply discarding it or using it for animal feed. The charities have indicated that through this scheme, up to 67 million meals could be created and shared among thousands of local groups.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare—one of the largest food redistribution organizations in the country—echoed Kerridge’s sentiments. “The food redistribution sector plays a crucial role in transforming surplus food into stronger communities,” he noted. “These local charities convert what would otherwise be wasted into essential meals, providing not only nourishment but also access to vital services for those in need. This funding represents a tremendous opportunity to rescue millions of tons of fresh produce and tackle the pressing issue of food waste in a socially beneficial way.”
Despite the fund’s announcement in February, it remains in limbo as the Treasury has yet to commit. Gibbon-Walsh stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “The frontline organizations we support cannot afford to wait.” He highlighted that Prime Minister Sunak has expressed a desire to create a “society of service,” while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) aims to establish a zero-waste economy. He views the fund as a significant first step toward achieving these goals.
Charlotte Hill, who manages The Felix Project in London, expressed her frustration over the waste of fresh British produce amidst rising food insecurity. “It’s a scandal that while so many families are struggling, perfectly good food is going to waste,” she remarked. “Our findings indicate that 56% of working families in London now rely on food banks to feed their children. These organizations are overwhelmed by demand and urgently require more food. This funding could unlock vast amounts of healthy, nutritious produce and lead to millions of meals reaching those in need.”
While government officials affirm their commitment to reducing food waste and have set a goal to halve it by 2030, they have cautioned that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs must also help address a £22 billion shortfall in public finances, which may lead to “difficult decisions” in the near future. A spokesperson from Defra stated, “The scale of food waste in our country is unacceptable. We are collaborating with the business sector to mitigate waste and ensure that food reaches those who are most in need. We’re grateful to food producers, charities, and retailers for their efforts in tackling this issue.”
