89m tonnes of food is thrown away each year in the EU, with the UK being one of the worst offenders, this is said to reach 126m tonnes by 2020 if nothing is done about it. If we saved just one fourth of the food currently lost or wasted we could feed 870 million hungry people. If we could save all safe and nutritious food that is lost, or even better, if we could feed 2 billion people, this is more than double the number of undernourished in the world. There are many parts of the process where food gets wasted from production to consumption with us as consumers being some of the worst culprits alongside the large supermarket brands we buy from. It is important to understand the difference between USE BY and BEST BEFORE when deciding whether the foods we think about throwing actually belong in the bin or not. The USE BY date is about safety where the product can be eaten or frozen before this date but not after. However, the BEST BEFORE date is about quality of the product and does not decide when food should be eaten by - this is down to the old fashion sensory judgement and if you think its ok to eat then it almost definitely is! However, most people (myself included before starting this project!) think that if its gone past it's best before date then it belongs in the bin but more often then not it still has just as many tasty qualities as it did when you bought it. Just After Best Before is a photography driven publication looking at the issues of food waste and positive ways it can be put back into the community.

Just After Best Before will feature charities and organisations such as The Real Junk Food Project, Devon and Cornwall Food Action and Rogers Wholesalers illustrating the amazing work they do using food that would otherwise be wasted and the great things they do with it for those most in need as well as those who pay as what they feel for a meal that has fed their hungry belly's. Just After Best Before will also feature recipes using mostly solely food that has gone past its Best Before date showing the delicious meals you can make at home with food left over from the big weekly shop.