Deputies decided to give pensioners food that expires

Many Russians buy food for future use, and as a result, 1.3 billion tons of food per year end up in the trash. Meanwhile, there are people living next to us who would be happy to eat this food, but it is not available to them. We are talking about pensioners and low-income people. State Duma deputies propose that stores give them (the poor) free products that are on the verge of their expiration date. The corresponding law has been submitted for consideration.

Experts spoke about the authorities’ initiative and the pros and cons of distributing low-quality food to needy Russians at a press conference at the Public News Service.

Products have a shelf life coefficient, just like, for example, medicines. If the packaging of the oil says “use before February 1st,” it means that on February 1st, and even the 2nd, or even the 3rd, most likely nothing bad will happen to the oil.

“Cheese, yogurt, fruits, and many other products have a safety margin,” says nutritionist Elena Solomatina. – Another thing is that if the store initially stored the goods incorrectly, they may deteriorate before the expiration date. But, as a rule, supermarkets try to maintain their brand.

There are perishable products that definitely do not have a safety margin – fish, meat, minced meat, offal. On the other hand, there are eggs and cheese with preservatives, which can not spoil even without a refrigerator, dumplings and sausages, which can be stored for months if frozen.

– There is controversy surrounding the bill obliging stores to distribute free products to pensioners and the poor that are about to expire. They say this is humiliation for people, continues Elena Solomatina. – From my point of view, there is nothing humiliating about this, it is a practical attitude to life, just like buying things in a second-hand store.

No one doubts that it is better to eat the freshest food. And it is clear that products with an expiration date are not as tasty and aromatic, but trace elements and vitamins are retained in them. “Everyone, even wealthy people, buy food at discounts, which is by no means the freshest. As a rule, residents of large cities who, out of habit, go to hypermarkets on Saturday or place large orders at home, do not calculate the amount of food that should be enough for a week,” says Elena Solomatina.

Products that are approaching the end of their shelf life can be thermally processed without harm to health, the nutritionist is sure. Cottage cheese and raisins – in cheesecakes, cabbage and sausage – in solyanka. But under no circumstances should you buy rotten vegetables and fruits from the market, which traders offer at bargain prices.

“People here mistakenly think: I’ll cut off this mold from a tomato and make a stew, and then I’ll peel the spoiled apples and put them in jam.” You can’t do that! If the elements of rotting have begun, they spread to the entire vegetable or fruit, it’s just not noticeable to the eye, says the nutritionist.

The head of a project involved in food sharing (this is the name given to the practice of distributing food products with an expiring shelf life), Elena Sudakova, complains that life is very difficult for people in need in the regions. In Moscow and St. Petersburg, for example, bakeries give away their products in the evening, before closing – bread, buns, cookies.

– Life is hardest for those with many children. In second place are students, in third are pensioners,” Elena Sudakova observes. – The rest are in need insofar as they are.

– It is necessary to introduce food sharing into the state program, to connect all stores, and not just large chains. But this requires incentives – at least tax breaks. The initiative should be implemented at the federal level. If we bring the innovation down to the regional, and essentially voluntary, level, we shouldn’t expect much effect. Well, maybe a number of stores will organize one-time populist actions, nothing more, concludes Elena Solomatina.