China declared war on food wastage

China’s President called on his country’s citizens to drastically cut down on food waste in a new initiative called the ‘Clean Plates Campaign’. The push came as the Covid-19 pandemic, devastating floods and worsening relations with major international partners have raised fears about food shortage in the world’s most populous country.

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President announced the campaign, promising to strengthen legislation and other mechanisms in support, calling the problem of food waste in the country “shocking and distressing”. Studies in recent years show that China produces around 17-18 million tonnes of food waste annually.

Restaurants, catering associations and even the military have swiftly responded to the President’s appeal by introducing new measures. Following Xi’s announcement, the State-run media ran “exposes” on restaurant customers ordering more than they could eat, as well as named and shamed a growing number of shows with people live-streaming themselves eating large quantities and varieties of food.