By-products from the U.K. food system 4. The cereals industries☆

Abstract The production, processing and distribution of cereals in the U.K. produces wastes and byproducts at each of its major stages. On the farm there is potential for the increased use of cereal straw as a fuel and as an animal feedstuff. The by-products of the primary processing of cereals are largely used as animal feedstuffs. A reduction in the production of these by-products, especially wheatfeed, by the production of flours with a greater average extraction rate would be of nutritional benefit to the population but such action could adversely affect the profitability of the milling companies through a reduction in their volume of production. Alternative human food uses for wheatfeed are unlikely to be acceptable. The bread industry is the largest waste producer in the secondary processing sector, producing 700 tonnes of bread waste per week in the U.K. The baking industry in the U.K. is unwilling to invest in recycling and the waste is sold direct to pig farmers. Since in the U.K. milling and bread baking are large controlled by the same companies a reduced profitability in the milling sector could provide the necessary impetus for the implementation of waste recovery techniques in the baking industry in order to maintain the overall level of company profit.