1/3 of Food Produced for Human Consumption is Wasted
source: http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/industrialized-countries-waste-produce/
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One-third of the food produced for human consumption winds up lost or wasted globally, about 1.3 billion tons a year, according to a study by the Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology (SIK). The UN supported the study titled “Global Food Loses and Food Waste.” Although the amount of food lost or wasted annually is almost equal in industrialized countries (222 million tons) and developing countries (230 million tons), over 40 percent of waste in industrialized countries occurs at retail and consumer levels. In developing countries, food loss occurs during post-harvest and processing stages of the food supply chain (FSC), but very little is wasted.
The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption in Europe and North America is about 900 kg/year, while it is only 460/kg a year in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia. In industrialized countries food “is thrown away even if it is still suitable for human consumption.” In other words, visually unappealing produce is thrown away even though it may taste as good as the better looking produce. That fact explains why the food wasted per capita in Europe and North America is 95 to 115 kilograms a year, and only six to 11 kilograms a year in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia.
“Food commodities are traded at an international market, and waste in one part of the world affects prices in other parts of the world,” said Robert van Otterdijk, FAO Officer for the SAVE FOOD congress being held May 16 through 17. “When food is thrown away in rich countries this affects the availability of food in poor countries.”
Why less visually appealing produce is thrown away
The reason why produce that is less visually appealing is thrown away is because supermarkets have “high appearance quality standards” for fresh products which leads to food waste.
Post Continues: http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/industrialized-countries-waste-produce/
The total per capita production of edible parts of food for human consumption in Europe and North America is about 900 kg/year, while it is only 460/kg a year in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia. In industrialized countries food “is thrown away even if it is still suitable for human consumption.” In other words, visually unappealing produce is thrown away even though it may taste as good as the better looking produce. That fact explains why the food wasted per capita in Europe and North America is 95 to 115 kilograms a year, and only six to 11 kilograms a year in Sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia.
“Food commodities are traded at an international market, and waste in one part of the world affects prices in other parts of the world,” said Robert van Otterdijk, FAO Officer for the SAVE FOOD congress being held May 16 through 17. “When food is thrown away in rich countries this affects the availability of food in poor countries.”
Why less visually appealing produce is thrown away
The reason why produce that is less visually appealing is thrown away is because supermarkets have “high appearance quality standards” for fresh products which leads to food waste.
Post Continues: http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/05/industrialized-countries-waste-produce/
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- groups:
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- Food, Agriculture, Developing Countries, food waste, 3 more
