Better Food Systems
SAFE’s work in Food4Inclusion contributes directly to several key policy areas of the EU, including:
- A sustainable just transition and the promotion of sustainable consumption
- The Farm‑to‑Fork Strategy: it is a component of the European Green Deal, aiming to transition Europe towards a sustainable food system. It addresses the challenges of sustainable food systems and recognises the links between healthy people, societies, and the planet.
- Food safety and public health, including advocacy for integrating nutrition into a One Health approach. It is an approach based on the idea that humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems are all connected, and that we need to care for them together to achieve better and more sustainable health.
- Food loss and waste reduction
- Food labelling and packaging regulations
Easier Food Distribution
In 2023, nearly 1 in 10 people in the European Union could not afford a proper meal every second day. This is more than in 2022, showing the situation is getting worse.
Most EU countries have rules to support food donations, but they are not always effective. In only a few countries, such as France, Italy, and Romania, food can be donated directly. In many others, farmers and producers face complicated procedures, and donations are limited to certain types of food.
Because of this, large amounts of fresh fruit and vegetables never reach people who need them. This leads to more food waste and can also drive up prices, especially in poorer areas.
There are still important gaps across the EU, such as unclear rules, strict or confusing food safety requirements, and a lack of coordination between organizations. Improving these systems is key to making food donations work better, reducing waste, and ensuring more people have access to food.
Safe released a report on food donations in the EU, highlighting barriers and opportunities.
SAFE wrote a position paper on food donation in the EU.
Reduced Food waste
SAFE advocates for reducing food waste by focusing on:
- the need to recover and use surplus food
- the barriers that make food donation difficult under current EU policies
- food waste reduction targets under the Farm to Fork Strategy
- ways to prevent food loss at every stage of the food supply chain
We welcomed the first mandatory food waste reduction targets.
To find out more about SAFE’s past campaigns on Food Waste under the LIFE Programme, click here.
Transparent food labelling
Food labels can often be confusing or misleading. In 2020, SAFE reviewed food products in several EU countries and found that many products labelled as “natural” did not justify this claim.
SAFE then surveyed consumers to understand how they interpret food labels, especially the word “natural.” The results showed that people want more transparency.
- 89% want clearer information about natural ingredients
- 86% want better information about artificial or synthetic ingredients
- 86% are more likely to buy a product if it clearly states that its ingredients are natural
- 89% support stronger rules to improve transparency
Current EU labelling rules do not always reflect the full nutritional value of food or consider concerns about ultra‑processed products. As a result, different labelling systems have developed across Europe, creating confusion and making it harder for people to make informed choices.
SAFE advocates for clearer and more reliable food labelling across Europe, so consumers can better understand what they are buying.
Find out more about our survey and our campaign on natural claims.
Unhealthy food advertising
Supporting people at risk, especially children, is a key part of SAFE’s mission. This includes improving access to healthy food and preventing diet-related diseases through nutrition education and clearer, more user-friendly food information.
Unhealthy diets affect children and low-income families the most, including single-parent households and migrant communities with limited support.
Creating healthier food environments is essential to improving nutrition and reducing the risk of long-term health problems.
SAFE has published a detailed report on the aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly HFSS products (high in saturated fat, salt, and sugar) targeted at children, calling for EU-wide legislation restricting these practices.
Living Wage for Healthy Food
Making sure people earn enough to afford a healthy diet is key to reducing food insecurity and improving fairness in society. However, in many EU countries, wages have not kept up with the rising cost of nutritious food. As a result, many people are struggling, 33 million cannot afford a proper meal every two days.
Although the EU has rules to support fair wages, they do not take into account the real cost of a healthy diet. At the same time, rising living costs and production costs are putting pressure on both households and food producers.
This creates a cycle: people have less money to spend, producers are pushed to lower prices, and more families rely on cheap, less nutritious food. This can lead to poorer health, especially among low-income groups.
Regularly tracking the cost of living can help ensure that wages reflect the true cost of eating well. This is an important step in reducing food poverty and supporting fair living conditions for everyone.
SAFE calls for measures to support the purchasing power of Europeans. We wrote a position paper on household purchasing power, inflation and unfair practices.
