The NHS wasted £1.1million throwing away more than 6,500 tons of food last year, official figures have revealed.
And data suggests the total for this financial year could be even higher – prompting Bake Off judge Prue Leith, who led a review of hospital food, to warn of a ‘mountain to climb’.
1146 tonnes have already been wasted by 38 out of 217 NHS trusts. This means that 2021/22 could easily surpass the 2020/21 number.
The NHS wasted £1.1million throwing away more than 6,500 tons of food last year, figures have shown
According to Miss Leith, “Progress has been slower that we would like,” she told The Daily Telegraph.
According to an NHS spokesperson, “While there is a lot of waste in the spotlight it does not make sense in comparison with other sectors. We are focused on net zero initiatives and waste that can really help us.”
Miss Leith asked the Government for a modern food and drink strategy, which targets specifically food waste.
Prue Leith from Bake Off (pictured), who conducted a review about hospital food, warned there was a mountain to climb.
Although all trusts must implement this strategy according to a 2014 hospital food review, it is not mandatory for them to do so. Six years later there are still no mechanisms to ensure that they are following the guidelines.
Trusts with the highest levels of waste include Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
Trusts stated that they were unable to provide data due to the fact that food was not regularly monitored and recorded annually, nor was it cost.