A nationwide campaign was launched in Germany on Monday, lasting one week under the slogan “Better than being thrown in the trash” to combat food waste.

In light of this campaign, the Social Democratic Party called for easing the procedures for retailers to donate edible food instead of discarding it.

Ezra Limbacher, deputy head of the party’s parliamentary group and an expert in agricultural affairs, told the German newspaper “Rheinische Post”: “Throwing away food should not be cheaper for large stores than donating it.”

Recent data from German Agriculture Minister Alois Reiner indicated that about 11 million tons of food are discarded annually in Germany.

In this context, Limbacher said: “We cannot continue discussing supply security while standing idly by in the face of this massive food waste.”

Limbacher believes that criminalizing so-called “dumpster diving” is no longer appropriate, explaining that “any food saved is an important contribution to resource conservation and social justice.”

An attempt by the previous German federal government two years ago to legalize “dumpster diving” failed after the German states failed to reach a unified position on the issue.

Limbacher called for the abolition of expiration dates on long-lasting foods, considering them pointless.

He added: “Canned foods, tea, pasta, and rice are often still safe to consume even years after their expiration date has passed.”