Lib Dems visit project to tackle food poverty in Edinburgh North & Leith

2.16.46pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 21st May 2009

Kevin Lang joins Mike Pringle MSP and Carol-Anne Alcorn at the FareShare distribution point in Bonnington.

Local Liberal Democrats have called on the Scottish Government, supermarkets and other businesses to back the Cyrenians FareShare's campaign to redistribute excess food to the homeless and disadvantaged. The call was made during a visit to the Lothian's distribution centre in Bonnington by local LibDem candidate Kevin Lang and Edinburgh South LibDem MSP Mike Pringle.

It is estimated that every year Scotland throws away around £800 million of food, the majority of which ends up in landfill. FareShare are appealing to supermarkets and other businesses who have excess food which is still in date to contact them to help those in food poverty, and the environment.

Today, the local Lib Dems visited the Cyrenians FareShare project in Bonnington, which provides over 15,000 fresh nutritious meals each week to people experiencing homelessness.

FareShare collects surplus fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products from supermarkets and retailers which would otherwise end up in landfill. Over 7 tonnes of this fresh food is delivered each week to over 40 homelessness projects. Donors include Marks & Spencer, Greggs, Pret a Manger, Simply Organic and Albert Bartlett & Son.

Speaking after the visit, Kevin Lang said,

"I was blown away today by the hard work, organisation and commitment shown by those involved in this excellent project. It was particularly encouraging to see currently unemployed people learning new skills and gaining new qualifications through their work with the project, which can then be used to gain new jobs.

"However, at the heart of FareShare is the idea of providing perfectly healthy food that is surplus to supermarket requirements and providing that to charities and organisations across the area. It was an impressive operation and I hope other shops will get involved in support of the scheme."

Mike Pringle MSP said

"Thousands of people across Scotland live in food poverty, and the problems have only been exacerbated further by the economic downturn.

"Cyrenians FareShare are doing an incredible job in tackling food poverty head on by redistributing good food that would otherwise have ended up in landfill. I'm calling on the Scottish Government to back Cyrenians FareShare's campaign to help those in food poverty through this recession and beyond."

Carol-Anne Alcorn, Programme Manager of Cyrenians FareShare Edinburgh and Lothian said,

"Last year food that FareShare redistributed contributed to over 4.5 million meals across the UK. Redistributing food is a win win solution for the disadvantaged and the environment; it not only helps the needy but reduces the volume of waste going to landfill and helps businesses reduce CO2 emissions.

"Good food should not be wasted but redistributed to those who need it most."

You can find out more about the Cyrenians project at www.cyrenians.org.uk