THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
December 13, 2024 at 18:01 JST
The Consumer Affairs Agency advises restaurants to provide clear safety instructions to customers when they take home leftover food. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
To address growing food waste in the nation, the Consumer Affairs Agency has outlined guidelines for taking home leftovers from restaurants that could make the practice more acceptable and widespread.
Approved during an expert panel meeting on Dec. 12, the guidelines include measures to prevent potential disputes between restaurants and customers regarding food safety.
In Japan, an estimated 4.72 million tons of food is wasted annually, with 600,000 tons coming from the restaurant industry.
However, many eateries remain hesitant to allow customers to take home doggy bags due to the potential legal liabilities they face from foodborne illnesses caused by leftovers.
In the guidelines, the agency suggests that restaurants can mitigate legal risks by providing clear instructions to customers regarding food safety and handling.
It recommends that restaurants inform customers to avoid taking home perishable or raw food items, and that they are not responsible for any foodborne illnesses caused by customers’ mishandling of their leftovers.
The guidelines will be presented to another government panel as early as this month. Upon approval, they will be officially published.
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