New report finds that food banks across the globe serve 62.5 million people...

Press Release...

Posted by GFN | March 25, 2019

New report finds that food banks across the globe serve 62.5 million peopleTesco CEO announced as keynote speaker at 13th annual Food Bank Leadership InstituteLONDON, 25 March 2019 – Food banks operating in 57 countries around the world mitigate an estimated 10.54 billion kg of CO2-eq annually – equivalent to nearly 2.2 million passenger vehicles, according to the Waste not, Want Not – Toward Zero Hunger: Food Banks – A Green Solution to Hunger study. 

This newly released study focuses on the contributions of local food bank organizations in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.The report, published by The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN), also found that the food bank networks of GFN, the European Food Banks Federation (FEBA) and Feeding America serve 62.5 million people and prevent approximately 2.68 million metric tons of safe, edible surplus food being wasted.The study is released ahead of the Food Bank Leadership Institute (FBLI), a three-day conference in London on 25-27 March 2019, where Tesco CEO Dave Lewis will deliver the keynote address on food waste. 

The event, now in its 13th year, is an opportunity for food bank leaders to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in hunger relief, as well as accessing proven training and growth techniques.GFN is also calling for food producers, retailers, and governments to adopt simplified label recommendations, as currently 20 percent[1] of safe, edible food is wasted over confusion with “best by,” “best before,” “use by,” and “sell by” dates on packages.These measures should help improve the current paradox, where one-third of all food produced for human consumption (1.3 billion tonnes) is being lost or wasted, whilst one in nine people (821 million) go hungry.