Poll: Should supermarkets be made to donate unsold, edible food to charities?

Supermarkets throwing away hundreds of thousands of tonnes of unsold but edible food is "inexplicable and indefensible", a Cabinet minister has said.

Commons Leader Chris Grayling praised Tesco for committing to a trial scheme to give away unsold food at the end of each day to charities such as homeless hostels and children's breakfast clubs.

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He said he would raise the issue of supermarkets throwing away good food with ministers after Tory former frontbencher Nigel Evans called for laws to end the "shocking and grotesque practice".

Responding during business questions in the Commons, Mr Grayling said: "You are of course absolutely right, it is inexplicable and indefensible that good food should be thrown away.

"You are absolutely right that the step taken today is a positive one.

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"I will ensure that my colleagues in the Cabinet Office are aware of what you said, there will be an opportunity coming up shortly to raise that correct issue directly in questions.

"But I'll make sure before that happens that this message is got directly across to them."

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Mr Evans had asked: "You will know there are few more shocking or grotesque practices than supermarkets throwing away 15 million tonnes of food as waste every year.

"Today the chief executive officer of Tesco, David Lewis, has announced that Tesco will stop this practice and ensure that that food goes to charity.

"Could you arrange for a minister to come to this House and say what they are doing to ensure that if Tesco can do it all the other supermarkets can do it and this grotesque practice stops? And if they refuse to do it that we will consider legislation as has happened in other countries?"