French MPs have drawn up a draft bill to make it compulsory for supermarkets to give leftover food to charity.
The draft bill stated that supermarkets, greater than 1000 square metres, donate the "unsold but still consumable food products" to at least one food charity.
Across the country's political parties, 63 MPS want to see the practice become law.
Supermarkets across France already give large quantities of unsold food to food charities.
In spite of the national policy against food wastage introduced in France in 2013, the measures to prevent edible food being discarded are not enough, according to the MPs.
Referring to World Food Organisation research, they said that one-third of the world's food products are still edible, but are being wasted.
The large food retailers' logistics and stock make it easier for them to organise donations, said the MPs.
By ending the best before dates on dried food products such as rice, pasta and jams, it would go some way to reducing the estimated 100 million tonnes of food wasted in Europe each year, according to the EU.
Belgium introduced a similar law in May.
It is the first European country to do so.
The draft bill stated that supermarkets, greater than 1000 square metres, donate the "unsold but still consumable food products" to at least one food charity.
Across the country's political parties, 63 MPS want to see the practice become law.
Supermarkets across France already give large quantities of unsold food to food charities.
In spite of the national policy against food wastage introduced in France in 2013, the measures to prevent edible food being discarded are not enough, according to the MPs.
Referring to World Food Organisation research, they said that one-third of the world's food products are still edible, but are being wasted.
The large food retailers' logistics and stock make it easier for them to organise donations, said the MPs.
By ending the best before dates on dried food products such as rice, pasta and jams, it would go some way to reducing the estimated 100 million tonnes of food wasted in Europe each year, according to the EU.
Belgium introduced a similar law in May.
It is the first European country to do so.