France has taken another step in its war against food waste by introducing legislation forcing restaurants to offer doggy bags to diners.
The new law came into force on 1 January and applies to restaurants which sell more than 180 meals a day.
The doggy bag has never been popular in France – a recent poll indicated that a whopping 70% of French diners have never taken leftovers home.
But the same poll showed that 75% of French people are not averse to the idea, although it carries the stigma of being viewed as an American custom.
Even the name doggy bag smacks to some as being déclassé. There is no French term for the concept, although the hotel and restaurant union has been trying to promote “le gourmet bag” as a classier replacement in order to encourage the practice.
Seven million tonnes of edible food is binned each year in France, while 3.5 million inhabitants rely on free meals provided by charities.
The catering trade accounts for 14% of this waste.
In 2015, legislation was introduced in France requiring major food retailers to give their unsold food to charities instead of destroying it.
