FoodForward SA tackles food waste and hunger in South Africa by recovering surplus food and distributing it to those in need, providing millions of nutritious meals annually.
Johannesburg, South Africa (11 June 2024) – Every year, millions of tonnes of food is discarded worldwide due to confusing food labels and misunderstandings about their meanings. Terms like “Best Before,” “Use By,” and “Sell By” often lead households to dispose of perfectly good food.
This contributes to a staggering 17% of global food production being wasted at the consumer level.
South Africa alone sees 10 million tonnes of food go to waste annually, which is a third of the country’s total food production. With such shocking statistics, it’s clear that food waste is not just a problem but a crisis that demands immediate action.
This is where FoodForward SA comes into the picture, offering hope and a practical solution to the food waste problem.
Established in 2009, FoodForward SA was born out of a need to address the pressing issue of hunger in South Africa. Their mission is simple yet powerful: to bridge the gap between surplus food and those who need it most. By recovering quality edible surplus food from the consumer goods supply chain, they have created a lifeline for millions of South Africans who face food insecurity daily. And FoodForward SA’s impact is nothing short of remarkable. In the 2022/2023 financial year alone, they distributed an astonishing 88 million meals, reaching 985,000 people daily through a network of 2,750 beneficiary organisations across the country. This was achieved with an impressive efficiency, costing only R0.56 per meal. Such success would not be possible without the unwavering support of their donors, partners, and volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that no edible food goes to waste.
Andy du Plessis, a key figure at FoodForward SA, recently shared insights into their incredible work on the Good Things Guy podcast. He highlighted how more than 80% of the food they recover is nutritious and spoke passionately about their commitment not only to feeding the hungry but also to promoting health and well-being among South Africa’s most vulnerable populations.
Listen to the interview below:
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