Michael Multan, MD

France made it illegal for supermarkets to throw away edible food. In 2016, France became the first country to require large supermarkets to donate unsold food instead of destroying it. The law applies to stores larger than about 4,305 square feet (400 square meters), which must partner with charities to redistribute food that is still safe to eat. The policy was introduced to address a growing contradiction: while millions of people experience food insecurity, large amounts of perfectly edible food were being discarded every year. In some cases, supermarkets even poured bleach on food in dumpsters to prevent people from taking it. Under the law, supermarkets are prohibited from deliberately spoiling unsold food. Edible products must be donated to charities and food banks so they can reach people in need, while food that is no longer suitable for human consumption can be redirected to animal feed or composting. Food waste remains a major global issue. France generates about 7.1 million tons (6.4 million metric tonnes) of food waste annually, while worldwide roughly 2.9 trillion pounds (1.3 billion metric tonnes) of food are wasted each year. The legislation is part of a broader national goal to cut food waste in half, supported by education campaigns in schools and businesses and changes across food supply chains. Supporters say the law helps address both environmental damage and food insecurity, while critics argue it does not fully tackle the deeper problem of overproduction in the global food system. Since the law was introduced, several European countries have explored similar policies to reduce waste and redirect edible food. It leaves an important question for the rest of the world: if food is still edible, should it ever be thrown away?