Wonky fruit and leftovers: Spain enforces new rules for supermarkets and restaurants
Restaurants in Spain will have to offer ‘doggy bags’ while supermarkets now need to sell ‘imperfect’ produce
Spain’s Law on the Prevention of Food Loss and Waste was approved way back in 2021 but after a series of delays and push-backs, it’s finally set to be enforced from Thursday April 3. In a nutshell, it means that supermarkets will have to sell ‘wonky’ or ‘ugly’ fruit and veg at a discount, and restaurants and bars will have to provide free containers for leftover food.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, a key part of the law, which will require all businesses to have a food waste prevention plan, won’t come into effect until April next year.
For the average consumer, all eateries will have to give customers the option of taking a ‘doggy bag’ of any uneaten food home with them. For this, they’ll need to provide reusable or easily recyclable packaging, and they won’t be allowed to charge patrons for the containers.
This applies to all bars, restaurants and cafes that serve food with the exception of all-you-can-eat buffets or similar establishments where food is unlimited.
With regard to less attractive looking products, Spain is a little behind the times here compared to the likes of the UK, where most supermarkets now offer ‘wonky’ vegetables and fruit at cheaper prices.
But from now on, stores will have to sell “ugly, imperfect or unattractive” produce rather than binning it, and the larger outlets will be expected to promote in-season, locally grown, organic products.
Spain is also notorious for throwing out food close to the expiration date, so the law stipulates that supermarkets will have to sell these items once they’re safe to eat. In addition, the government will work to make sure the ‘best before’ dates on food labels are realistic, so food doesn't get thrown away unnecessarily.
Going forward, stores and restaurants will have no option but to comply with the law, or face serious fines ranging from €2,000 to €500,000.
Image: Freepik
Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox
Special offer: Subscribe now for 25% off (36.95 euros for 48 Bulletins)
OR
you can sign up to our FREE weekly roundup!
Read some of our recent bulletins:
Discount Special Offer subscription:
36.95€ for 48 Editor’s Weekly News Roundup bulletins!
Please CLICK THE BUTTON to subscribe.
(List price 3 months 12 Bulletins)
Read more stories from around Spain:
