ZERO says donated food is safe and key to cutting waste

Marking World Food Safety Day, environmental association ZERO stressed that donated food, when following existing rules, is safe to eat, challenging the perception that donations mean lower quality. Portugal wasted about 1.93 million tonnes of food in 2023, or 182.7kg per person, according to INE, while 4.8% of residents faced moderate or severe food insecurity. ZERO notes that wasted food could theoretically feed almost a million people, more than double those affected by food insecurity. Since January 2024, businesses have been banned from discarding still-edible food when safe donation channels exist, and the EU-backed LIFE Food Connect project aims to strengthen donation networks in southern Europe.