FoodForward SA is leading a petition to implement a food donation policy so that safe, healthy food that would otherwise go to waste can be redirected to those who need it the most.
This holiday season, give the gift of your signature and help FoodForward eradicate hunger in our country.
Also read: FoodForward is determined to influence South Africa’s food-donation policy
One in three South African children lives in food poverty. According to the Global Hunger Index for 2022, 27% of children under the age of 5 suffer from chronic malnutrition, and half of all child deaths in our hospitals are linked to malnutrition.
South Africa is a food-secure country because it produces enough food to feed all its people, yet more than 10 million metric tonnes of good-quality, edible surplus food are either lost or wasted through the food supply chain annually.
Why? because South Africa is one of the few countries in the world without a food donation policy.
While the most vulnerable people in our society are starving and dying of malnutrition, millions of tonnes of good-quality, edible surplus food are being dumped because of various supply chain dynamics such as over-ordering, poor forecasting, incorrectly labelled goods, and liability concerns.
Despite this food being unsellable, it is still edible, healthy, and perfect for consumption.
With the help of a food donation policy, safe and healthy food that would otherwise go to waste can be given to people who need it the most.
The policy will create better access to healthy food for the poor, help eradicate hunger, reduce child deaths, and strengthen our underserved communities.
Parliament in South Africa will only consider implementing the food donation policy if we can get a petition with at least 100,000 signatures. Food Forward SA has created a food policy petition but needs 100,000 signatures.
This season, give the gift of your signature and help us eradicate hunger in our country. It won’t take more than a minute.
Sign the petition here.
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Picture: Supplied
