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Written question asked by Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 3 February 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 February 2026 (named day). It was answered by Mary Creagh (Labour) on Monday, 9 February 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Food: Waste

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage food surplus redistribution in the baking industry.

Answer

We recognise the environmental, economic and social benefits of preventing food waste and redistributing surplus food to organisations who can use it. Redistribution is second only to prevention in Defra’s Food and Drink Waste Hierarchy, which includes the expectation that all businesses should have plans for redistribution in place if any surplus arises.

We fund the groundbreaking UK Food and Drink Pact (formerly the Courtauld Commitment), a voluntary agreement with industry to tackle food waste. Through the Pact, Defra regularly engages a working group of industry and redistribution sector organisations to develop best practice on how to redistribute surplus quickly and safely and overcome the barriers to redistribution.

We also fund the Food Waste Reduction Roadmap, which helps businesses to identify and measure their surplus and waste and take action to reduce it. We support this Target Measure Act approach as it enables food businesses to get more surplus to the redistribution sector.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
110569
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Food Waste Surpluses Bakeries
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk