Swiss supermarkets sell 'ugly' potatoes to fight food waste—will it work?
Swiss supermarket chain Migros has launched a new initiative to cut down on food waste by selling misshapen potatoes. The 'Save Food' line, introduced on 12 February 2023, offers 3-kilogram bags of spuds that don't meet usual beauty standards. Critics, however, question whether the move will make a real difference in tackling the country's food waste problem.
Switzerland produces over 360,000 tons of potatoes each year, but a significant amount goes to waste. As of 31 January 2023, storage facilities held 51,000 tons of fresh-consumption potatoes—46% more than the five-year average. Despite this surplus, around 2.8 million tons of food are discarded annually, roughly a third of all food produced in the country.
Migros and rival retailer Coop have both committed to halving food waste by 2030. Their efforts include selling near-expiry products at reduced prices. The 'Save Food' line now extends this approach to imperfect potatoes, with plans to include carrots, onions, apples, and pears in the coming months.
Niklaus Ramseyer, president of the Swiss Potato Producers' Association, dismissed the campaign as a marketing stunt. He warned that focusing on misshapen potatoes might leave higher-quality ones unsold, worsening food waste. Instead, he proposed a simpler solution: increasing per capita potato consumption from 45 kilos to 50 kilos per year.
The 'Save Food' initiative aims to reduce food waste by giving imperfect produce a place on shelves. Yet, with Swiss potato stocks already high, the long-term impact remains uncertain. Both retailers and producers continue to explore ways to address the broader issue of food waste in the country.
