Food waste is considered a global problem. Figures from the United Nations indicate that the world economy losses more than US$750 billion annually due to spills, scraps or spoilage. In highly industrialized countries such as the U.S. and the U.K., an average of 1.5 trillion pounds of food go to waste every year. This amount is nearly equivalent to the total food harvest of Africa's sub-Saharan countries.
In the last quarter of 2012, NPR Foods reported that about 40 percent of food in the U.S. was uneaten. And the average American consumer wasted 10 times as much food as someone in Southeast Asia with up to 50 percent from Americans in the 1970s.
However, 1 in 6 Americans doesn't have enough food to eat as presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
With these given figures, only one question remains: What can be done to resolve this problem? Having that in mind, Worldfooddayusa.org suggests these three possible ways to battle global issues on food waste:
Think - Plan ahead before shopping for food. Having a list can be helpful to avoid buying excess items, particularly those that you often do not consume. Practicing "Fisrt In, First Out" (FIFO) is also a smart move.
Eat - Avoid leftovers by requesting small orders at the restaurants. At home, practice preparing meals that the family can consume for the day. Leftovers may be kept in the fridge for future consumption.
Save - Always be mindful that hard-earned money is wasted every time you throw away food. Whenever possible, recycle leftovers. Monitor the expiration of your groceries to prevent spoilage.
Let's face it, the food industry is up to a greater challenge as the figures seem to be both depressing and alarming. So, let us remain committed as we join hands in reducing global food waste, even in our own little ways.
