Few of us like to see food wastage. It is, however, a common issue – among households and supermarkets alike.
The UN’s FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) reported that approximately a third of the food produced globally is wasted every year.
This equates to an alarming 1.3 billion tons – seven million of which can be attributed to the UK.
So, what has caused this problem to swell? And, more importantly, how can we solve it?
Let’s explore the key causes of it – and the potential solutions.
Reliance on Supermarkets
Most people travel for food – particularly to supermarkets. But could it be true that we are becoming over-reliant on superstores? If your supermarket ran out of products, what would you do?
A simple solution would be to grow your own goods, of course. However, not many Brits are confident gardeners. Luckily, you don’t have to be an outdoor specialist to produce your own vegetables.
Soil, sunlight – artificial or natural – and a plant pot or patch are the main tools required for this. If you protect your vegetables properly, you can create high-quality produce.
Achieve this, and you may never have to rely on the supermarket for veg again. And so, you’ll be less likely to overbuy when it comes to this item.
And this could massively reduce how much you waste.
Over-Consumption
What exactly is ‘over-consumption’? Essentially, it describes the point at which people have access to more produce than they need.
And it’s frequently linked to the UK food industry. Its relationship with obesity is widely known – but what about food wastage? Over-consumption can, after all, refer to buying excessive amounts of produce. What’s the reason for this, though?
Very often, promotional offers – such as “buy one, get one free” – are applied to packaged goods, or rather “junk food”.
Many shoppers are tempted by these deals – and this may lead them to purchase more food than they’re able to eat. The result? Surplus food goes to waste.
Budgeting may hold the solution. So long as people shop wisely, they stand to save money and eat healthily. And when can be just as important as how when it comes to shopping.
Most supermarkets reduce costs after 7pm. So, if you are visiting after this time, you’ll be more likely to find healthy produce at a cheaper rate.
Consequently, you could be less tempted by promotional deals on less nutritious food.
Food Expiration Dates
An expiration date is used to guarantee safe consumption for food shoppers. As its name suggests, it predicts the shelf life of perishable goods.
If produce is no longer for consumption, it makes eminent sense to discard of it.
However, many people throw away food that is perfectly consumable, for the simple reason that it has reached its “best before” date. And this leads to unnecessary food wastage.
So, how can this be solved? According to experts from the US Department of FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service), very easily.
Very often, you just need to be able to properly assess the safety of the food. So long as it doesn’t appear, smells or generally seems dangerous for eating, it will most likely be consumable.
A sharper sense of clarity may be all that’s needed to reduce your food waste.
Food wastage is a market failure – but this doesn’t have to continue. Now that you know how, you can easily lower the amount of produce that you dispose of.
