Marks & Spencer has been forced to launch an urgent investigation after a social media vigilante filmed multiple wheelie bins overflowing with perfectly edible, in-date food discarded behind one of its stores.
The Viral Exposé That Shocked Shoppers
The campaigner, who operates online under the handle @food_waste_inspector, posted the damning video on January 15. It showed nine bins located outside an M&S store, eight of which were packed with unopened food items still within their use-by dates.
The footage revealed a shocking array of discarded products, including bread, vegetables, processed meats, and potatoes. Many of these items had several days of shelf life remaining, with some not due to expire for almost a week. "This is devastating waste," the inspector stated in the video. "There are people going hungry right now in this country."
A National Crisis of Waste and Want
The video throws a harsh spotlight on the stark contrast between supermarket waste and widespread food poverty. Official government data indicates that 7.5 million people in the UK, including 18% of children, lived in households experiencing food poverty between 2023 and 2024.
This scandal emerges against the backdrop of a national food waste crisis, with the UK discarding an estimated 9.52 million tonnes of food annually—enough to feed more than 30 million people for a year.
In response to the public outcry, an M&S spokesperson told Metro the company has a "clear process to manage food waste in store." The process is designed to ensure surplus edible food is donated via their partner Neighbourly, given to colleagues, or offered to customers. The spokesperson conceded, "It’s clear that in a small number of stores something has gone wrong and we’re looking into that right now."
The Vigilante's Fight and Public Backlash
The anonymous activist, a West Londoner with a combined following of 139,000 across Instagram and TikTok, has made it his mission to document food waste across major UK supermarket chains, including Lidl and Waitrose.
He claims his previous investigations have led some stores to padlock their bins or keep them indoors to prevent filming. Speaking about his experience with M&S, he said: "I’ve asked if I can save any reduced foods five minutes before they close, so I can donate this, [but] I’m told no, it’s got to be binned."
The video sparked fury online. One user commented, "Considering that you now have to jump through administrative hoops to access many food banks, this breaks my heart." Another added, "This could go to schools, care homes... This is appalling."
Despite M&S's public commitment—including a 2025 target to ensure 100% of edible surplus food is consumed and the trial of a 'Surplus Saviours' redistribution scheme in May 2025—this incident suggests systemic failures persist. The food waste inspector has now launched a petition, signed by over 7,200 people, calling for legislation to mandate supermarkets donate unsold edible food, mirroring successful laws in France and Italy.
