Consultation hours

Sirkka Jendis: “Food donations urgently need to be simplified”

von Isabelle Diekmann
27.01.2023

Currently, 2 million people affected by poverty in Germany regularly go to the food bank to receive food donated to distribution points. At the same time, 12 - 18 million tons of food are thrown away in Germany every year. How can we help to ensure that food is distributed better and that everyone really has a chance of eating well? What role does nutrition education play in this? We spoke to the managing director of the German food bank, Sirkka Jendis, about food waste in Germany and visions for fairer distribution.

How many people came to the food bank regularly in 2022?

In 2022, the food banks in Germany supported around 2 million people affected by poverty with food. That is more than ever before in our 30-year history.

To what extent are the current crises, such as the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, as well as the effects of the pandemic, making themselves felt?

The current crises are causing major problems for many people. The war in Ukraine and the price increases have meant that many more people are seeking help from food banks than before. Compared to 2021, food banks have seen an average nationwide increase in customers of 50 percent. In some food banks, demand has even doubled. People who have a job and were previously able to cover their expenses on their own are now also coming to food banks.

Sirkka Jendis, Managing Director of Tafel Deutschland | Photo: Navina Neuschl

Are the food banks getting enough food to cope with this increase or will people without food have to be sent home?

At the same time as demand increased, food donations from supermarkets decreased in 2022. The decline is due to supply chains destroyed by the war. In addition, food retailers now often calculate differently so that they have less food left over. The food banks can only pass on the food that they receive as donations. 32 percent of the food banks had to introduce a freeze on admissions, other food banks can only distribute food every two weeks because there is simply no longer enough food for everyone. There are also food banks that have reduced the amount they distribute per person so that they can continue to support their customers. This effort is exhausting and puts a mental and physical strain on those involved.

12 - 18 million tons of food end up in the trash in Germany every year – how can that be?

There are many reasons for food waste. Consumers often misunderstand the best-before date and throw food away without checking for themselves whether it is still good. In private households, a lot of food spoils because it was stored incorrectly or bought in too large quantities. When producers stick incorrect labels on goods, it is often easier to throw everything away rather than correct the mistake.

Food is often discarded if it does not meet the ideal visual requirements. Even during the harvest, crops are damaged and cannot be processed further. These examples show that food is lost along the entire value chain.

Photo: Nikolaus Urban

How does the food bank save these foods? What logistical and organizational effort is involved and what challenges do the food bank employees have to deal with?

The food rescue by the food banks is a logistical masterpiece: A food bank visits supermarkets and other grocery stores to pick up donated goods that can no longer be sold, even though they are of perfect quality. These include bread and baked goods from the day before, fruit and vegetables with minor blemishes, overproduction or stocks with an approaching best-before date. Our helpers check the food for quality and sort out what is no longer good. In the food bank distribution points, they distribute it to around two million people affected by poverty.

What opportunities does each individual have to support the food bank? Where is the most help needed?

There are many ways to get involved with the food bank. Many food banks are looking for volunteers and are happy to receive donations of money, goods and food. If you ask your local food bank, you will find out what is most needed. You can find the contact details of the food banks at tafel.de/tafel-suche . Of course, you can also simply donate at tafel.de/jetzt-spenden and support the work of the food bank. We are happy to receive any help!

Photo: Nikolaus Urban

You save 265,000 tons of food - how can you save more? How/where are you limited in your work?

The food banks would like to support more people with food, but they are currently reaching their limits. Infrastructure is of course a major issue and needs to be expanded further so that even more food can be saved directly from the producers. Further investment would also need to be made in the cooling and storage of food. However, the food banks need the necessary financial resources for this. In view of the current crises and the increased demand, expanding logistics is extremely important.

In May 2022, you publicly called for a law against food waste. To what extent does politics play a role in food waste and what has happened since your call?

We are calling on the federal government to introduce binding legal measures for manufacturers, the food trade and consumers. This requires a comprehensive educational campaign on measures to combat waste.

Food donations must be legally secure, simplified and tax-advantaged - both for manufacturers and producers as well as for the food trade. In order to be able to provide and maintain the necessary infrastructure through storage and transport, we call for financial support from the state.

You also offer cooking and nutrition education courses. How important are these information events and what do they aim to achieve?

A healthy and balanced diet is extremely important for health and well-being. Especially when money is tight, many people save on their food or do not have the financial means to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Some food banks offer various nutrition education projects. As part of the "Food Bank is healthy and sustainable" project, for example, food banks offer free seminars in which healthy eating and new recipes are discussed and implemented.

Photo: Roman Mykhalchuk

What can be done to spread this knowledge? In your opinion, would it be advisable to offer such courses to everyone at school?

Many food banks are already working with schools to give children and young people a healthy breakfast and to strengthen nutrition education and the appreciation of food. There also needs to be a change in thinking towards more appreciation of food in society. For example, we are calling for nutrition education to be integrated back into school curricula so that children are made aware of the issue from an early age.

Do you have any tips for everyday life to avoid food waste? How can we treat our food better?

The best-before date is not a use-by date! Use your senses to check food before you throw it away. Only buy what you really need and don't go shopping when you're hungry. Get creative with leftover food instead of throwing it away straight away. For example, google the leftover food with "+recipe" for inspiration for creative leftover food. It's also important to store food properly, e.g. berries unwashed, mango and potatoes not in the fridge, bananas not next to other fruit.

Cover photo: Reiner Pfisterer