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What are food miles?

All food makes a journey from where it is grown or produced to your plate. How far food has travelled is known as its food miles.

We should be aiming for as few miles as possible. Choosing foods with fewer food miles helps reduce pollution and protect our planet.

In this article you can learn:

  • what food miles are
  • how we can make better food choices for the environment

This resource is suitable for Health and Wellbeing for primary school learners.

Video - Food miles

In this video, the Great Spoon explains what food miles are and why local food is often a better option for the environment.

Find out how our food choices can have an impact on the environment.

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Fruit and food miles

Strawberries and oranges
Image caption,
Local strawberries produce a smaller number of food miles than the oranges that travelled from another country.

Healthy snacks such as strawberries and oranges can help explain food miles.

  • Strawberries grown and sold at a local farm have travelled very few food miles before they reach our plate.
  • However, oranges grown in Spain and then transported to our supermarkets by plane and lorry have travelled a lot further.
  • The local strawberries produce a smaller number of food miles than the oranges that travelled from another country.

When adding up food miles you might need to include your journey to and from the shop. If you travelled by car, bus or train, these all create carbon emissions and add to the food miles. Walking or cycling don鈥檛 need to be counted and they are healthier too!

Strawberries and oranges
Image caption,
Local strawberries produce a smaller number of food miles than the oranges that travelled from another country.
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Interesting words about food miles

  • food miles 鈥 the distance food has travelled to get to your plate. Food must travel from the farm it is grown on or the factory it is made in to a supermarket or shop to be sold.
  • carbon emissions 鈥 harmful gases such as carbon dioxide are released into the earth鈥檚 atmosphere when we use to provide energy. We need energy to grow, produce and transport food. Some food uses more energy than others.
  • local 鈥 a place close to where you live. Fruit and vegetables that were grown near you would be considered local. A shop in your town would be a local shop as opposed to a shop you had to travel to.
  • transport 鈥 moving people, animals, or items for sale like food from one place to another. Food can travel by car, bus, lorry, boat and plane. These methods of transport all need a lot of energy.
Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Local produce sign at a fruit and veg market, Local food Fruit and vegetables that were grown near your home would be considered local. This is better for the environment because less energy has been used to get the food to you.
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Test your knowledge

Try this quiz about food miles and the environment.

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Challenge

With the help of an adult, investigate what local food is available near you.

  • Is there a farmer鈥檚 market or a local fruit and vegetable shop?
  • Are any farms nearby selling eggs?
  • Does a fish van come to your area?

Climate change food calculator. activity

Use this climate change food calculator to discover more about food miles and carbon emissions.

Climate change food calculator
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