Advocates call for regulations to end food waste in Canada
It’s a shocking statistic, you would only hear in a wealthy and privileged country like Canada. More than half of all food is wasted in the country, 58 per cent to be exact. Those figures come from non-profit Second Harvest, which conducted a national study over two years ago and found more food is wasted than Canadians consume.
As national waste reduction week kicks off, Second Harvest is calling for a bigger commitment to help end food waste. The call comes amid millions of Canadians struggling to put food on the table.
“We need to set targets because there is a direct correlation between food waste and the climate crisis,” said Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest.
Nikkel told CTV News Vancouver that processing and manufacturing are the largest sources of avoidable waste.
Some companies have even gone to the extent of using ‘best before dates,’ giving consumers the impression that food should be thrown out after that date.
“Best before doesn’t mean bad after, it doesn’t really mean much at all,” said Nikkel.
The study offered recommendations to the federal government, including changes to crop insurance, expiry dates and avoiding buying in bulk.
“Policy changes need to happen now. We need to start measuring and monitoring food waste right across the supply chain. There needs to be consequences so that industry has to hit those targets or there’s a consequence. And the consequence doesn’t have to be bad, it could be a tax incentive,” said Nikkel.
Some industries are working towards the solution like Maple Leaf Foods, claiming to be the first company in the world to be carbon neutral.
And Vancouver based start up Spud, an online grocery that tries to reduce food waste in many ways, including donating products that are about to expire to charity.
However, reducing food waste can also happen at home.
“It’s a good way to start,” said holistic nutritionist, Christina Wilton.
“Try to be as creative as you can with the food in the back of the fridge and make sure it still gets eaten,” said Wilton.
“Carrots in the back of the fridge that are starting to look a little suspect, can still be put into a soup,” added Wilton.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.