The Romanian food paradox: much is wasted while much is needed

The less visible effects of food waste

In a recent statement, the representatives of the Federation of Food Banks in Romania, tackled the far reaching negative effects of food waste. "When we talk about food waste, the first image that often comes to mind is a half-eaten plate thrown away or a product forgotten at the back of the fridge. However, the reality is far more complex and profound. Reducing food waste is not just about the food itself, but about a much broader impact, with direct effects on the environment, the economy and social balance," they say.

According to them, reducing waste primarily means less pressure on natural resources. "When we throw away food, we waste not only the final product, but also all the water, soil, labour and energy used to produce, process, package and transport it. Therefore, preventing food losses is a concrete and immediate step towards protecting the environment and reducing polluting emissions".

Food waste and vulnerable groups

At the same time, tackling food waste plays a direct role in ensuring that food reaches those who need it most, contributing to improved nutrition and access to food for vulnerable groups, the organisation's representatives added.

At an individual level, reducing household waste has a direct impact on one's ecological footprint and on how resources are used on a daily basis, while also helping protect the family budget. "We are living through a painful paradox: while statistics show that more than 3.4 million tonnes of food are thrown away annually at national level, according to Eurostat data for 2022, entire communities still struggle with access to food as a daily concern," the federation's representatives added, as over 27% of the country's population is at risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Old/new legislation to tackle food loss

After nearly a decade in which Romania’s food waste law operated on a voluntary basis, 2026 marks the transition to a mandatory system, with clear rules and control mechanisms.

Therefore Romania’s food waste legislation enters a new phase as of April 1, 2026: moving from general recommendations to concrete obligations for companies. Players in the agri-food sector - retailers, producers, distributors, and HoReCa companies - are required to take clear measures to reduce food waste and report on these actions annually.

Clear obligations for companies, starting April 2026

The new phase of the law requires each company to adopt at least two measures from the following categories:

• preventing the generation of food surpluses (planning, FIFO - first in, first out, inventory management);

• reducing the price of products before expiration;

• donating food for human consumption through partnerships with authorized receiving operators;

• alternative use (processing, composting, animal feed).

In addition, companies must:

• develop an annual food waste reduction plan;

• submit it to the Ministry of Agriculture’s platform;

• effectively implement the measures undertaken.

Failure to comply with these obligations may result in fines as well as operational and administrative risks.

Food Banks – relatively young players with a growing role

"In everyday life, change starts at home. We can reduce waste by organising the fridge according to the FIFO principle, learning the difference between 'use by' (food safety) and 'best before' (optimal quality), and planning purchases to avoid excess," the Food Banks Federation say.

At the same time, economic players across the agri-food chain can turn surplus stocks into community support. "Under the law on reducing food waste, companies can donate products to food banks, benefiting from important tax incentives (full deductibility of expenses and VAT exemption for transferred products)," the document notes.

Since its establishment in 2016 and until the end of 2025, the Food Banks Network has collected more than 41,000 tonnes of products, transformed into over 76 million food portions, distributed through more than 800 partner NGOs to 325,000 vulnerable people. Of this total, more than 37,000 tonnes represent food saved from waste, over 3,000 tonnes were collected through the National Food Collection campaign, and nearly 1,400 tonnes consist of non-food products.