People have been left utterly flabbergasted to discover that one simple method of disposing of kitchen waste like potato peelings or carrot tops is actually illegal. The fact was revealed in a TikTok video in which a self-proclaimed "cheapskate" showcased everything from her weekly food shop.
The woman, known as diaryofacheapskate on the social media platform, regularly imparts useful money-saving tips to her 244,000 followers. However, it was a piece of information she disclosed about what you're not permitted to do with your kitchen scraps that left people stunned, reports the Mirror. Items the woman displayed in the video included stir fry vegetables, flour, cheese, lard, milk, tortilla wraps, and chickpeas.
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And, presenting a watermelon, she said: "This watermelon will probably last a day in our household. The kids go wild for it.
"The guinea pig likes the rind of it so that doesn't go to waste. I've heard that chickens like the rind of it too, but in the UK it's illegal to give chickens any kind of kitchen scraps, so I'm not going to condone that."
People in the comments were absolutely gobsmacked to learn this. One person said: "Sorry, it's illegal to give chickens kitchen scraps? Why?" Another wrote: "It's illegal to give chickens scraps?! Really? Why?" Someone else said: "I never knew it was illegal to give chickens kitchen scraps. I always used to give my chickens the peelings (not had any for a few years now though!)"
And another wrote: "I did not know that about chickens. Places are allowed to cage chickens and cull them after a few month's of use but a family who love them like a pet cant give them fruit and veg scraps? That is crazy! I'm thinking about rescuing a couple of chickens, I'm sure they will love some fruit and veg."
Explaining the reason for the law in the video's comments, one person said it is "to minimise the risk of spreading disease, predominantly as most households eat meat products." Another said: "It's more so for people selling, so if someone gets ill it can be traced back as it's part of food hygiene. And as others have said to help prevent the spread of disease. Tbh I'm of the opinion that scraps should be fed, just be careful if you're giving away/selling eggs."
According to the UK Government's Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the most likely cause of the 2001 outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease was pigs being fed undercooked catering waste from outside the UK containing the disease. The law covers all types of livestock, including chickens and other poultry, and pigs.
Speaking in 2017, APHA's then-medical director Simon Hall said: "It is important that farmers and smallholders help safeguard the health and welfare of their animals by not feeding them with meat, meat products, or any waste from kitchens. They should also ensure that farmed animals do not have access to catering waste from any other sources, such as dustbins.
"The catering waste ban acts as a national barrier to the introduction of potentially devastating animal diseases, and helps reduce the spread of an undetected disease once it has entered the country."
According to the British Hen Welfare Trust: "As it stands, it is illegal to feed your hens kitchen scraps even if you live in a vegan household. However, as we understand it, providing food has not passed through your kitchen it is safe to give your hens.
"We would therefore recommend that, if you wish to give your hens treats such as fruits and vegetables, that they are taken into your garden via a side gate. For example, taking a cauliflower or cabbage into your garden and hanging it up as a treat for your hens avoids the food having to pass through your kitchen, which is where the risk of cross-contamination occurs."
Others were more doubtful in the video's comments. One stated: "I'm someone who owns over 20 chickens. We feed them vegetable scraps. They're fine. Some have lived 10+ years. You'd have to be genuinely too stupid to live to feed your chickens raw meat or anything else mouldy that could start and spread disease."
