Major supermarket chain ParknShop continues to deny throwing away perfectly edible food, said campaigners for Friends of the Earth Hong Kong yesterday - as they displayed evidence to the contrary.
As the heat soared to over 34 degrees on one of Hong Kong's busiest thoroughfares, the piles of salad and vegetables wilted, but the bread looked in good condition.
The food covered about five square metres, laid out on black plastic bags in Sai Yeung Choi Street, Mong Kok.
The sight drew tuts of disgrace and shakes of the head from passers-by. Volunteers from Friends of the Earth also collected signatures for a petition demanding supermarkets stop wasting food.
'We're here today to show the public and have them judge for themselves if the food is really damaged or expired,' said Celia Fung Sze-lai, the group's environmental affairs officer.
Out on a family shopping trip, Memo Ng Ngok-pang stopped to view the spectacle along with his wife and two sons. 'It's so wasteful, so bad,' said the 46-year-old.
He wanted to see supermarkets donate their unwanted food to charity, but said he was unlikely to stop shopping at ParknShop. 'I work and it's simply too convenient,' he said, shrugging and looking somewhat apologetic.