Understanding the difference between surplus food and food waste can help combat food insecurity and reduce environmental impact.

When we talk about food surplus and food waste, it’s easy to assume that they are essentially the same thing. Images of diving through bins to find discarded food often come to mind, with a common belief that these efforts are solely for those experiencing food poverty. The notion that surplus food inevitably leads to food waste might seem logical, but the truth is that there are crucial differences between the two. Understanding these differences is essential for changing how we view surplus food and taking steps to ensure it doesn’t become food waste.

What is surplus food?

Surplus food refers to an excess supply of food that is still good to eat but hasn’t been consumed or sold. This can happen due to overproduction or over-purchasing. For instance, when you buy ingredients for meals and end up with leftovers, those leftovers constitute surplus food. These items are still edible and can be stored for future use. Similarly, supermarkets, grocers, and restaurants often have surplus food due to various reasons such as deformed produce that consumers don’t want to buy or overstocking.

Surplus food isn’t waste at this stage. It represents an opportunity for redistribution and reuse. Supermarkets and food retailers often have systems in place to manage surplus food, redistributing it to charities or selling it at a discounted price before it reaches its expiry date.

What is food waste?

Food waste, on the other hand, occurs when surplus food isn’t consumed in time and ends up being discarded. This can happen at any point in the food supply chain, from farms to households. Those leftovers in your fridge that you forgot to eat? That’s food waste. When supermarkets and grocers fail to sell their surplus and it spoils, it becomes food waste. While some food waste is inevitable, a significant portion is preventable through better planning, storage, and redistribution efforts.

The environmental impact of food waste is severe. When food waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Reducing food waste is crucial for mitigating these environmental impacts and ensuring more sustainable food systems.

How to prevent food surplus from becoming food waste

Preventing food surplus from becoming food waste requires coordinated efforts from consumers, businesses, and charities. Several organizations and initiatives are dedicated to this cause. For example, charities like Plan Zheroes redistribute surplus food to those in need, ensuring it is consumed rather than wasted.