Belgium urges population to eat more chips over potato surplus

The potato industry in Belgium are urging their citizens to eat more chips to prevent a waste in the country due to surplus.

They are asking residents to eat chips at least twice a week as 75,000 tonnes of potatoes are at risk of being thrown away, amid the lockdown.

Romain Cools, the Secretary General of Belgapom, said this largely comes down to a fall in demand for frozen potato products.

The frozen potato sector accounts for 75% of Belgium’s processing and as stocks require less refreshing, therefore sales drop.

But Cools believes residents can help “avoid food waste” by purchasing and consuming more frozen chips.

Cool hopes to form partnerships with supermarkets in Belgium because “every lost potato is a loss.”

Meanwhile, representatives from the largest chains, such as Pret a Manger, Costa and McDonalds asked George Eustice, the Environment Secretary if they can start to reopen.

It is understood that Eustice has been “particularly perplexed” by the closure of drive-through restaurants and described them as “the model of perfect social distancing.”

KFC are to reopen 11 of its restaurants after staff volunteered to work, and are to reopen some stores for takeaway and delivery services, but with no dine in options.

Burger King have already reopened some branches and they are to provide 10,000 free meals a week to NHS staff.