The economic crisis that accompanied the outbreak of the corona virus led to a significant increase in the number of insecure residents. That is, people who do not know when their next meal will be and what it will include.
Food insecurity is the most serious sign of poverty, manifested in the lack of economic capacity and regular access to basic nutrition required for a balanced and proper existence. Damage to food security means damage to other areas of life. The problem of food insecurity is reflected not only in the extent of financial expenditure on food consumption, but also in the consumption mix; Nutritional insecurity is accompanied by a low level of expenditure mainly on fruits, vegetables, meat and fish, whose nutritional value is high. Many studies point to a direct link between food insecurity and a range of different diseases, and between an individual's socioeconomic status and morbidity and mortality.
According to the National Insurance Institute's report for 2018, 513,000 families in Israel live in food insecurity.
In other words - over a million and a half people, including over 600,000 children!
According to BDO estimates and the Israel Collection, the corona crisis will lead to an additional 145,000 people, who will enter a state of food insecurity that they did not have in the past.
Another phenomenon that accompanies the economic crisis following the outbreak of the corona virus is actually a rise in prices, as well as an increase in food prices.
Rising prices are affecting all of our pockets, and some of us will be forced to redefine household spending priorities.
However, for the food insecure, these price increases are a real battle for survival.
Photo: Leket Israel,
Why throw away when you can save?
Saving surplus food may be an immediate and accessible solution to this situation, as it is an existing alternative to food production, transferring the abundance that exists in one place to a place where there is a shortage.
According to estimates by the National Report on Food Loss and Food Rescue for 2019, by Leket Israel and the Ministry of Environmental Protection, about 35 percent of food produced in Israel is lost throughout the production, distribution, retail and consumption stages, which are about 2.5 million tons of food per year. In addition to the cost of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants as a result of food loss and the cost of treating waste, the total cost of food loss is about NIS 22 billion, which is 1.5 percent of the national product. Half of the lost food can be saved. Saving food makes it possible to reduce the gap in food insecurity and allow those who cannot afford to eat a hot and nutritious meal, while saving about 72 percent of the costs.
Economically, saving food should be seen as a process that is a complete alternative to food production.
Given that food production costs have risen and so has its final price, its rescue value will be even higher and so will its value for the needy.
Food rescue also has environmental benefits: The 2019 Food Loss and Rescue Report shows that the environmental costs of food loss total about NIS 3.2 billion.
Saving food can significantly reduce these costs.
Food rescue is in fact a winning formula that enables the production of food without the substantial use of resources and while preventing further waste of resources, while contributing to increasing product and productivity in the economy.
Food security for everyone who needs it.
Activities of Leket Israel, PR
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Cross-party consent
On October 23, 2018, after about a decade of intensive work, the Knesset plenum unanimously approved a bill to encourage the rescue of surplus food in the second and third readings. This bill was submitted at the initiative of various Knesset members, including Knesset members Uri Maklev, Moshe Gafni, Yechiel Chilik Bar, Orly Levy Abacis, Shuli Mualem and Mordechai Yogev, accompanied by the Israel Collection. To date, many food entities have refrained from donating surplus food that remains in their possession and preferred to throw it in the trash, for fear of being held civilly or criminally liable for damage that may be caused by the food donated. The purpose of the law ‘to encourage the rescue of food surpluses’ is to protect food donors and food associations, who meet food safety standards, from criminal and civil prosecution for their donations. Thanks to this legislation, the volume of cooked food donations to Israel has increased.
Another step that has been taken and contributed to increasing the volume of cooked food donations is the adoption by the Government Companies Authority of saving food as a tool for fulfilling corporate responsibility.
A government company that contracts with a food rescue organization and donates its food surplus will be considered a company with corporate responsibility.
So how much did we help?
In 2020, Leket Israel assisted about 246,000 needy people each week, using almost 20 tons of cooked food, and fruits and vegetables with a total value of NIS 186 million.
The food is distributed to the needy through 330 associations, organizations and local authorities throughout the country.
The organization also assists endowment organizations in purchasing the appropriate infrastructure required to adhere to food safety rules and maintain the health of the supported.
Nowadays, Leket Israel serves as a model for similar organizations from around the world that come to learn about its activities, and is recognized by GFN-Global Food Banking Network as Israel's national food bank.
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