Cem Özdemir: Minister of Agriculture demands impunity for "containers"

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That's still good: Cem Özdemir (Greens) wants to save more food from wasting

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BERND VON JUTRCZENKA / AFP

Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir wants to make the so-called container of food exempt from punishment.

»Anyone who wants to save food that is still edible from waste containers should not be prosecuted for it.

I think we all want our police and courts to take care of criminals instead," said the Green politician of the "Rheinische Post".

In Germany, far too much food ended up in the garbage, he lamented.

This is a total of around eleven million tons a year - and more than half in private households.

»Therefore, there is no single solution to solve the problem of food waste in one fell swoop.

We therefore have to look pragmatically at where we can start,” Özdemir continued.

"Containers" means getting food that is still edible, for example, from supermarket rubbish bins.

It may be a criminal offense under current law.

atb/dpa