A Petition To Stop Quebec Grocery Stores From Throwing Out Food Has Over 5,000 Signatures

Some businesses such as grocery stores still throw away good food when it's close to the expiry date or a new shipment comes in to replace it. A Quebec petition to the province's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food aims to end this practice. 

The petition, titled "Implementation of Measures to Reduce Food Waste," has received over 5,500 signatures and includes three recommendations to stop the practice of throwing away "viable food." 

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The problem of food waste includes several levels and social, environmental, cultural and economic issues.

Implementation of Measures to Reduce Food Waste petition

The petition states that "Quebec currently has no regulations concerning the management of viable unsold foodstuffs."

"Businesses, institutions and industries in Quebec waste large quantities of viable food; these viable foods are then sent to landfill sites, generating greenhouse gas emissions." 

With food banks often struggling to find viable food in urban areas, the petition wishes to completely prohibit Quebec businesses from throwing away good food. 

In addition, the petition asks the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to force "businesses, institutions and industries to adopt plans to reduce food waste, in particular by developing partnerships with their neighbourhood organizations" and "to invest in the development of new infrastructures and in eco-responsible education for all, to encourage our society to adopt better practices in the fight against food waste."

The petition will be active on the government's website until December 14, 2020.