Cutting Food Waste the French Way
Sort out the fridge with a flatmate, talk about dates, leftovers and compost, and take your leftovers home from a restaurant.
France was the first country to ban supermarkets from throwing away unsold food: they must offer it to food charities instead. Apps like Too Good To Go and Phenix sell surprise baskets of unsold food from bakeries and shops at a discount, and since 2024 every town must give households a way to sort food scraps, often a shared composteur or a dedicated bin. Labels say « à consommer jusqu'au » (use-by, for fresh food) or « à consommer de préférence avant » (best before), and most restaurants will happily box up your leftovers if you ask.
- 1
On jette trop de nourriture.
We throw away too much food.
- 2
Regarde la date limite de consommation.
Check the use-by date.
- 3
La date est dépassée, mais c'est encore bon.
It's past the date, but it's still fine.
- 4
Ne le jette pas, on peut le congeler.
Don't throw it away, we can freeze it.
- 5
On fait quelque chose avec les restes.
Let's make something with the leftovers.
- 6
Le pain est rassis, on fait du pain perdu.
The bread is stale, let's make French toast.
- 7
J'ai pris un panier surprise sur Too Good To Go.
I got a surprise basket on Too Good To Go.
- 8
La boulangerie vend ses invendus à moitié prix.
The bakery sells its unsold bread at half price.
- 9
On met où les épluchures ?
Where do the peelings go?
- 10
Les déchets alimentaires vont dans le composteur.
Food scraps go in the compost bin.
- 11
Est-ce que je pourrais emporter le reste ?
Could I take the rest home?
- 12
Vous avez une boîte pour emporter ?
Do you have a box so I can take it away?
- 13
J'achète juste ce dont j'ai besoin.
I only buy what I need.
- 14
Je fais une liste de courses pour ne pas acheter trop.
I make a shopping list so I don't buy too much.
- 15
Les fruits et légumes moches sont moins chers.
Wonky fruit and veg are cheaper.
- 16
C'est dommage de gaspiller.
It's a shame to waste it.
- 17
Les supermarchés doivent donner leurs invendus aux associations.
Supermarkets have to give their unsold food to charities.
- 18
Ça sent bizarre dans le frigo.
Something smells weird in the fridge.
- 19
Ce soir, on finit les restes.
Tonight we're finishing the leftovers.
- 20
Le gaspillage alimentaire, c'est un vrai problème.
Food waste is a real problem.