While inflation remains at a significant level, at 6.2 percent year-on-year in February 2023 according to Insee’s estimate, many French people are cutting their food expenses. Faced with this situation, the Minister of Solidarity has just announced a food aid plan for the most vulnerable people, so that they can have access to more qualitative food. The program, entitled 'Better Eating for All', has a EUR 60 million fund. The mechanism must be based on associations and food banks, a process that is less complex to put in place than the food check.

A national plan but also a local one

The program’s main aim is to help food aid organizations that help 4 million people to obtain more environmentally friendly and healthier food. Objective: to be able to purchase fresh produce (fruit, vegetables, legumes and unprocessed products) under quality labels as defined in the EGalim law from the 2018 Estates General of Food (organic labels, PDOs, PDOs, PGIs, Red labels, Sustainable fisheries).

“By the end of the five-year period, we hope that the supplies of all food aid networks will be in line with the recommendations of the National Nutrition Health Program (PNNS), particularly with regard to the five fruits and vegetables per day,” the ministry said.

At the local level, the aim is to support local food alliances between producers, associations, beneficiaries and local authorities and territorial food projects, and to set up various offers for the people concerned:

• green checks and solidarity checks (as already exists in Rennes or Dijon);
• green and solidarity baskets;
• green and inclusive workshops to provide nutritional recommendations and encourage cooking learning.

How will the device work?

In concrete terms, the idea is to recover unsold fruits and vegetables that are nearing the expiry date, and then process these foods in workshops to make jams, preserves or prepared dishes. Finally, to distribute these preparations directly to the poorest families through the network of food banks and associations.

The fund is also intended to create a supply network with farmers, who could participate in the scheme by creating baskets and distributing them to beneficiary families.

The roll-out of the program is announced for spring 2023, at national level with food aid associations and at local level.