Gov't to strengthen functioning of food banks in Japan

Food wastage in Japan is alarming.

Supermarkets here often won’t reduce food prices near sell by dates, preferring to bin edible stock.

It doesn’t make sense...

Families are unable to afford food, child poverty is growing and food banks in demand for the third biggest economy in the world that's an embarrassing situation if only there was some kind of body dedicated to the people as a whole, you know a representative for them. Someone who cared. Something along the lines of a functional government.

4,000 tons donated while an estimated 6.43 million tons went to waste. Of the 6.43 million tons, it is estimated that 55% was thrown away by the business sector. That works out to roughly 3.5 million tons. So... just over 0.001% of food that was thrown away went to food banks. Japanese pensions are declining quickly so going forward something needs to be done. There is plenty of supply and plenty of demand.

This makes sense as Japanese people get poorer and poorer. 60% of the workforce are on semi-permanent or part time working contracts, the minimum wage is less than 10 bucks an hour, 25% of children live in poverty and people are being taxed into oblivion. All this despite a labor shortage and low unemployment. It's high time for Japan to stop touting itself as a rich country. The coffers of the government and corporations are full, but that is at the expense of the other 95% of the population.

This makes sense as Japanese people get poorer and poorer.

Nonsense.

Japan GDP per capita has been growing .705% annually. Japanese people are getting richer not poorer.

The effect of Japan's unwritten rule of not allowing people to take home left-over food from their meals (e.g., via "doggie bags") may skew the figures, especially when compared to statistics from the U.S. where this practice is routine.

Its too bad in a country that wastes so much food people still have to go hungry.

Good for them. This seems a pro-active idea by Japan, hopefully it will mean no children will go without 3 meals a day.

Nonsense.

Japan GDP per capita has been growing .705% annually. Japanese people are getting richer not poorer.

@ Sumiko Nagoya - Yes - the Japanese economy has been doing well the past decade, but there are sadly some people who slip between the cracks that need help. It is good Japan is helping them.

child poverty is growing

more nonsense.

Japan's child poverty rate eases,

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2017/07/07/national/social-issues/japans-child-poverty-rate-eases-strong-public-support-still-needed/#.XiQFz2gzbIU

and Japan came in first in the welfare for Childern

Food Banks are a huge embarrassment for Developed Countries. Such Countries should focus their Charitable efforts on their own Home Country first before flooding corrupt African and Eastern Nations with Development support / charity monies...

https://www.statista.com/statistics/382695/foodbanks-emergency-food-needed-united-kingdom-uk/