A Global Problem: Food Waste

Food waste is an ever-growing global problem. One of the most significant problems of our planet is the inequality in access to food. Being aware that one in nine people struggle with hunger is sufficient reason to fight against waste. Unfortunately, many of us buy more food than we can consume and cause global food waste. Nearly 1 billion people worldwide struggle with hunger and malnutrition.

Even one fourth of the wasted food products worldwide could be the solution for hunger. Today, we know that food waste is hidden in the consumption habits of societies/people. There is food waste in almost every stage of food cycle, including farmers’ productions, middlemen, marketplaces for food, farmers’ markets and convenient stores, and the waste continues in households and restaurants. Crushing, rotting and spoiling of food during harvesting, and/or transportation from producer to consumer also contribute to the problem. However, the waste does not only occur in farms, farmers’ markets and/or convenient stores, but also grows with factors such as leaving food on the plate at home or restaurants, shopping for more than required, and stocking. Since people’s awareness on the issue may result in community awareness, we must initially put an end to wasting food at homes.

Below, we focused on the answers for what food waste is, how it happens and what to do to prevent it.

Definition of “Food Waste”

We call the nutrients that people need to consume in order to continue their vital activities “food”. “Food waste” is the excessive use of food and throwing it away without being consumed. Wasting of food, which starts its journey in the farms and then reaches to supply chains, then to sales locations and to homes, or letting it become inconsumable results in food waste, famine and unequal distribution of food. Roughly a third of the world’s food is wasted; and, that’s about 1.3 billion tons a year. Most of the food wasted is composed of fruits, vegetables and grains. Food waste does not only mean wasting our food resources, but also means wasting land, water, labor, energy and capital resources.

What Causes The Food Waste?

Several factors, including faulty agricultural and food policies, lack of technological equipment, etc., play an indicative role in food waste. The goal is to deliver food harvested from their locations of production to the consumer as soon as possible; however, there are losses in every link of the chain, such as harvesting techniques, storage, cooling methods, logistics, etc.

Food waste comes to a head in the "from farms to tables" process due to people's consumption habits. 50% of food waste is a result of personal mistakes, such as miscalculation of food requirements. The main cause of food waste is the excessive and unconsumed food being wasted.

Food Waste in Turkey in Figures

​According to the United Nations' Food Waste report, 7.7 million tons of food a year is thrown out in Turkey. In other words, annual food waste per capita is around 93 kg. Industrial food waste and domestic waste amount up to 18 million tons a year. These figures are truly alarming. They prove that Turkey needs to take a series of serious measures on food waste.

Global Food Waste in Figures

The latest researches have revealed that 33% of the food produced in the world is wasted every year. This means 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year before it reaches those in need. Most of the food waste occurs in developed countries. The cost of the food waste in industrialized countries reaches US$680 Billion, while the cost in developing countries with weaker economies is around US$310 Billion.

Can Food Waste Be Prevented?

Yes. It is possible to reduce the global food waste and take efficient solutions and measures at every step of the supply chain. Furthermore, each citizen of the world, i.e., each individual, can contribute to this solution. Developing national policies, raising awareness of farmers in the supply chain, encouraging food industries and companies to take responsibility, imposing infrastructure and cold chain sanctions, and providing accurate training and distribution services can prevent “food waste”.

Food Waste and Impacts

1. Global hunger
2. Decreased productivity of cultivated lands
3. Global Famine
4. Wasting energy and water resources
5. Spending extra fuel and resources in production and logistics
6. Loss of labor
7. Loss of capital

An individual with raised awareness adopts accurate consumption habits and contributes to the process via methods to tackle food waste. A sustainable lifestyle means avoiding waste of any kind.

What is Food Waste?

We must understand that wasting food and food waste are two separate concepts. Wasting food, as we have already mentioned, is basically throwing out the food produced without being consumed. Food waste, on the other hand, includes products that do not pose any health risks when consumed. These products are all food products that are not consumed because of their shape, color or left on the plate and thrown away.

Food waste is divided into two categories;

1-Preventable food waste (Edible/consumable food before being thrown away)

2-Unavoidable food waste. (For example, coffee grounds, food shells)

Shopping without paying attention to the expiry date, preparing more food than the customers can consume in restaurants and cafes, and throwing away leftover food due to posing a health risk are the main reasons of food wasting.

What Measures the World Takes to Prevent Food Waste?

Globally, 30% of grains, 40-50% of fruits and vegetables, 20% of meat and dairy products, 35% of fish are thrown away every year. In other words, food that can feed 3 billion people a year is wasted. In order to prevent food wasting, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015, and the second goal of these SDGs, “End Hunger”, aims to highlight this issue and develop a solution. Activities have been initiated to reduce global food waste by 50% by 2030.

Simple, Individual Measures to take in order to Prevent Food Waste

1. Store food accurately: Learn how to preserve food accurately. Use a deep-freezer. Refer to methods such as drying, pickling.

2. Redefine your food needs: Identify the food waste at your home, take notes, and record which food, if any, goes to waste. In brief, start following up your monthly food purchases.

3. Adopt a healthier and more sustainable diet: Although busy urban life makes it difficult for an individual to prepare nutritious meals, you can find hundreds of healthy recipes on the internet. Try to eat meals containing legumes and vegetables 2-3 times a week.

4. Shop smartly: Go shopping with a list prepared beforehand, do not buy more than you need. Be sure to check the expiration dates of food.

5. Pick oddly-shaped fruits and vegetables as well. Do not throw away food because of their appearance. For example, use this type of fruit and vegetable to prepare juices, smoothies and desserts.

6. Use leftovers: Instead of throwing them away, make your meals and surplus food useful with creative recipes and methods.

7. Learn to read food labels: Check food labels for unhealthy ingredients like trans fats and preservatives and avoid foods with added sugar or salt.

8. Compost: Compost organic wastes such as vegetable and fruit peels.

9.Try the zero waste approach: Apply the methods developed to avoid food waste, try the zero waste approach.

Significance of Preventing Food Waste

Preventing food waste is one of the most significant issues in ending the global hunger problem. Thus, it is necessary to raise awareness of people and take individual and institutional measures. Preventing food waste is essential for sustainable development. You can contribute to a fairer future by implementing the individual measures listed above.