The famous Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge is joining forces with several organizations to urge the British government to unlock a £15 million fund. This funding would be aimed at transforming unused fresh food surpluses from farms into meals for food banks and soup kitchens, instead of letting these perishable products end up in landfills. By supporting this initiative, Kerridge highlights the importance of reducing food waste while providing essential aid to struggling families.
The Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge is partnering with charitable organizations to demand the implementation of a promised £15 million fund aimed at redirecting unused fresh food surpluses from farms to food banks and community kitchens across the country. Despite repeated promises made since 2018, the funding has never been released. Kerridge, who grew up in a council estate in Gloucester, argues that this would reduce food waste while providing food to those in need. Farmers are eager to redistribute these products, but the fund is necessary to offset the costs associated with this more expensive process. The program could provide up to 67 million meals. Organizations like FareShare are ready to work with the government to bring these ambitions to fruition. However, current economic challenges are hindering the authorities’ commitment.
Tom Kerridge and the Food Waste Initiative
In partnership with charitable organizations, the renowned British chef Tom Kerridge is urging the British government to release a £15 million fund for food surplus redistribution. This promised funding has long been awaited, aiming to compensate farmers for harvesting, storing, and packaging surplus food intended for distribution to food banks and soup kitchens.
First announced by Michael Gove in 2018 and reiterated by Rishi Sunak this year, the project still hasn’t secured financial backing. Kerridge, supported by thousands of other organizations, has signed an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves urging her to include this fund in the upcoming budget. According to Tom Kerridge, this program could significantly reduce waste and provide essential food supplies to those who need it most.
Importance of Funds for Farmers and Organizations
Farmers have expressed their readiness to redistribute food, but they indicate that financial support is crucial to cover the costs associated with this redistribution, which are higher compared to waste or use for animal feed. The plan would allow up to 67 million meals to be transformed and support thousands of community groups across the country. For Tom Kerridge, these charitable organizations are vital to the vitality of their respective communities.
A Call to Action for the British Government
Despite repeated statements from the Prime Minister and efforts from the Department for Environment to reduce food waste, organizations are still awaiting a concrete response to implement this redistribution system. The fund would serve not only to address the urgent food needs of families but also to make progress towards a zero-waste economy. This represents an incredible opportunity to rescue millions of tons of fresh produce while tackling the environmental issue of food waste.
