The Italian government passed sweeping legislation this week that aims to drastically reduce the amount of food wasted in the country. The new laws make it easier for farms and supermarkets to donate unsold food and reward businesses that cut waste. The measures also encourage Italians to take restaurant leftovers home in doggy bags (something Italians, apparently, are loath to do). [...]
The movement to cut food waste is growing across Europe. European Parliament members voted 600 to 48 in favor of introducing legislation that would stop grocery giants from using unfair trading practices that often lead to overproduction and food waste.
In France, the government has banned supermarkets from throwing away edible food. It imposed harsh penalties on businesses that fail to comply.
France and Italy still waste massive amounts of food, but their efforts to stop the problem put the U.S. to shame. Up to 40 percent of all food in the U.S. goes uneaten, even as one in seven American households lack regular access to good food. While the U.S. has adopted some legislation designed to reduce food waste ― like the Good Samaritan Act, which protects businesses that donate old food from legal liability ― these laws lack the scope and bite of the anti-waste measures in Italy and France.
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