A FOOD redistribution charity is calling for more action to stop unwanted food waste in Dumbarton and the Vale.

FareShare revealed that between April 2020 and March of this year, the charity distributed almost 7,000 tonnes of food to communities in Scotland.

In West Dunbartonshire 77 tonnes of food, equivalent to 183,000 meals, were distributed during the pandemic.

The organisation takes surplus food from across the food industry and redistributes it to groups that support the most vulnerable, including children, the homeless, refugees and elderly people.

The charity estimates that since lockdown restrictions came in, up to 72,000 people are now accessing food provided by FareShare each week.

Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton and the Vale said: “FareShare do a good job in linking our local food banks with supermarkets and other food retailers to redistribute food and minimise waste.

“A lot of waste is generated because of a confusion over sell by and best before dates.

"The partnership between local foodbanks and Fareshare ensures that people experiencing food poverty get the help they need.”

Now, FareShare’s food effort has been boosted by its innovative Surplus with Purpose scheme, which the charity wants to see expanded to help fight food waste.

Surplus with Purpose works with small-scale farmers, growers and suppliers to save food that is rejected for consumer sale and helps them with the cost of redistributing this fresh food through FareShare, rather than let it rot in the ground, be used for animal feed or sent to landfill.

With the UN Food Summit and COP26 happening later this year, FareShare wants to see government and industry working together to roll out the scheme, to help cut waste and carbon emissions.

Jon Molyneux, FareShare’s Scottish affairs lead, said: “These figures show the scale of the effort to get food to people in need.

“Many people still don’t realise that food waste is a huge contributor to global warming, accounting for at least 8 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.”

Charities interested in accessing food can contact the FareShare Glasgow and the West of Scotland warehouse on 0141 958 1133.