Since 2016, food businesses of more than 400 m² have been required to propose a donation agreement to a food aid association. In return, they can benefit from a tax reduction equal to 60% of the value of the donations, within the limits provided by law.
Faced with these abuses, the UGESS is calling for more political and financial support for the associations' own supply programs, so that they can choose and improve the quality of the food they offer.
The study indicates that 16% of products donated by supermarkets are directly thrown away by associations, in particular because they are expired or too damaged to be consumed. In addition to the figure of 60 million euros in tax reductions linked to damaged or expired products, the organization denounces the time spent sorting these non-consumable foodstuffs by volunteers and employees of the associations, estimated at 22,000 hours per year within its network.
This situation occurs in a context of purchasing power crisis and rejection by the Senate of the bill 80 healthy products at cost price. It raises questions about the nutritional quality and the effectiveness of tax exemption schemes granted to food businesses.
The UGESS also points out the poor nutritional quality of donations, almost 30% of which are ultra-processed products according to its study. These products are intended for people who suffer greatly from social inequalities in health, and who suffer more than the average from high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and overweight.
According to the organization, which supports nearly 150 social and solidarity grocery stores, donations from large retailers represent around 40% of the food distributed by food aid associations. The UGESS estimates the tax reductions enjoyed by large retailers for these ultra-processed products at around 100 million euros.