I was raised by two notable Nova Scotians who were teenagers during the Second World War, and who were all too familiar with food and gasoline rationing. My entire childhood echoed with the words: “Don’t waste your food. Clean your plate. People are starving in other countries!"
Between them, my folks worked for 80 years in service to Canada.
I have noticed, after contributing to the Eastern Shore food bank for 20 years, that when I speak to various staff at Porters Lake Superstore or Head of Jeddore Sobeys (two ruthlessly competing brands), their whispered complaint is always: “Why do we have to throw out cases of eggs and cheese because of the expiry date?”
In France, this wasteful practice is now illegal.
Canadian marketing boards demand government subsidies continue by eliminating products that are safe to consume, in order to bring fresh products to the market in a timely manner. Grocery store dumpsters are now locked to keep staff or homeless people from getting perfectly good cheese or eggs.
In a hungry world, this is criminal fraud.
Philip Thompson, Petpeswick
