BY LIBBY HYMAS

We waste far too much food. Two billion tonnes of food is wasted across the world every year.

Most of this food has nothing wrong with it apart from being a little past its sell-by date; we just read the packet and ignore our senses telling us the food is fine.

About 30 per cent of Britain’s vegetable crop waste didn’t even make it to the shop - it was written off because of its physical appearance. Who cares about a wonky carrot?

This leads me to the ‘wonky veg’ system. Some supermarkets sell vegetables that aren’t perfect for a lower price.

I believe this is a very good way of decreasing excessive food waste. Threelegged carrots and bendy leeks are now being sold as a quirky, new thing.

A recent survey showed that 48 per cent of customers are now more than happy to buy them.

This means that more supermarkets should participate in the system because it would be worthwhile.

Skipchen, a restaurant in Bristol, takes food from supermarket skips. The food is perfectly edible and in good condition, although the supermarkets aren’t allowed to sell it as it is past its sell-by date.

Volunteers turn the food in to a delicious dish for people who cannot afford it otherwise. Diners pay as much or as little as they can give. Co-director, Sam Joseph, believes that it is wrong for edible food to be binned and is passionate about sharing it with those who need it.

He says cases of malnutrition are rising in the UK and people are struggling to feed themselves nutritiously.

He thinks supermarkets need to change their attitudes towards food waste.

I believe food waste is a huge problem in this country and ideas like the wonky veg scheme and Skipchen are a fantastic way of tying to solve it.