The European Commission has declared 15 September as the Food Safety Day with the aim of to prevent food waste and optimise food packaging as a part of their 2020 Resource Efficiency Framework. Actions include communicating and raising awareness about food date labels ("best before" and "use by" dates) and about refrigerated storage of food that will benefit both food safety and food waste reduction. Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner John Dalli said. "The Commission is engaged in the efforts to address the issue and has started to analyse with all interested parties ways to minimise food waste and optimise food packaging without compromising food safety,"
The Commissions "Preparatory study on food waste across EU 27" from October 2010 underline that households are responsible for 42% of the total food waste, which 60% is avoidable. The food manufacturing sector, the retail sector and the catering sector contribute respectively to 39%, 5% and 14% of food waste. Agricultural food waste is not included in the estimate.
MEP Ian Hudghton (Greens/UK) welcomed the Commission initiative and praised food waste programmes put in place by the Scottish government.

Read the Commission press release here

Read the press release by the Green party here

Read the "Preparatory study on food waste across EU 27" here

Find full information about actions to minimise food waste here