States
take action against food waste
Every year, French people throw away 20 kg of food per
person, including 7 kg still packed. 1 300 billion tons of food are wasted
worldwide, which is one third of the total production. In other words, French
households waste between 500 and 1,500 euros per year.
Wednesday 16th October 2013 was world food day and
food waste was the focus of attention. In June 2013, the French government
started the “anti-gaspi” plan in order to halve food waste by 2015.
The government also initiated 11 national campaigns
called “National Pact against food waste” This initiative includes training
courses at hotel management schools, agricultural schools, waste prevention
programmes, information about food donation and replacing “Use before” with “Best
before” the packaging. Whilst “to consume before” is a quality indication,
“limited date of consumption” is a health risk indication after the date
mentioned on the packaging.
Food waste has many causes. According to the European
Commission, in the 28 countries of the European Union 42% of families,
39% of food processing industries, 5% of retailers and 14% of restaurants waste
food. However, this problem does not just affect France and Europe. The
“champion” is certainly the United States, a fact recently confirmed by a study
conducted by the National Resource Defense Concil. According to this study, 50
million Americans, including 16 million children, are a situation of “food
insecurity”. Furthermore,
40% of the food bought in the United Stated is not consumed. In contrast to the
European Union, the food waste in Africa or Asia results from failed harvests
or bad storage conditions. 180 million tons of rice is lost each year in East
Asia due to bad storage.
However, a lot of information about food waste is
published in the United States. For example a company created a mobile phone
application called “Flashfood”. Thanks to this application, people or entities
who have too much food and who don’t need it can connect to “Flashfood” and
give it to people who are in “food insecurity”. Furthermore, New York City have
undertaken to reduce its rate of food
waste by 75% by 2030.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations wrote in an ecological and food waste report published on 11 September
2013 that 54% of the losses are registered during production, harvesting and
storage. The rest occurs during preparation, distribution and consumption. The
total direct cost of food waste is estimated at 565 billion euros. These
figures are really worrying because the United Nations expects an increase in
population from today’s 7 billion to 9.5 billion people in 2075. Consequently,
we will have to feed an additional 2.5 billion people and food waste will have
to be stopped. According to the National Resource Defense Council, we would be
able to feed another 25 million people per year if we reduced food waste by 15%.
M. Ribella
As far as I am concerned, food waste should be eveyone's concern. Few weeks ago, I saw a documentary on that subject and it was said that the waste begin during the selection of the products which will be commercialized. The example given in this documentary was about vegetables. They have to be perfect before being offered to consumers. Vegetables which have a bad appearence would not be sent to stores even if they are perfectly edible ! Actually, if the vegetable not comply with the quality policy, it would be thrown away. People would not buy it because of its visual aspect.
ReplyDeleteKaren.
I completely agree with you! Today profits are more important as environment and poverty. In my opinion, it is chocking that any company don’t give food which have a bad appearance. However, some association take it and give to poor people.
DeleteM. Ribella
I find your article and the study that you included in really interesting because they allow us to measure the importance of our acts and to see how much we waste food while a lot of people are starving. Moreover in my opinion the “Flashfood” application is a smart concept to reduce food waste and it would be necessary to create one in France as well because in a first place it could avoid to waste a maximum of food and in a second place feed homeless persons and also those who are in need. Because of the current economic situation in France more and more people are not able to make ends meet any more and thanks to this application everyone could help by giving them food they won't eat. Consequently “Flashfood” could resolve two problems at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLaurie Jacquet
Flashfood is a nice concept because it is fun and handy. I don’t know if this application exists in France. It could be a solution to reduce food waste and French people could also make savings. Actually saving energy is a topic which people take more and more in account and Flashfood could help them in order to reduce their consumption.
DeleteM. Ribella
Have you heard about « Schnippel Disko »? Called "Disco Soupe" in France?
ReplyDeleteTo me it is a great initiative and a funny way to make people sensitive to the waste.
It is a non-profit organization that gathers "junked" fruits and vegetables, turn them into meals (mostly soups, hence the name of the organization) and then hand them out for free. Their motto is "Yes We Cut".
Feel free to join one of their events if you peel good.
I saw a documentary about « Disco Soupe ». A lot of French association go to vegetables factory and take vegetables which have a bad appearance. Then they make soup and give to poor people. It’s a nice concept and it can help a lot of people.
DeleteYour article deals with an essential issue with regards to our Western society. It points out how we just don't care about our consumption habits, because even if we all say "Food waste is a shame!!!", how many of us have ever thrown away some yogurts because the limited date of consumption was 2 days ago? Whereas we all know that the "limited dates of consumption" are brought forward in order to respect a prevention period. Besides, the thing I don't understand and which makes me feel exasperated is the fact that the supermarkets actually do not have the right to give extra-food they can not sell anymore but which is completely eatable to charities. Because if they do and that some day one single person gets sick, they take the risk to be sued and to lose money and notoriety. So finally, people are still starving, but at least they don't get sick. Our society is really getting crazy!
ReplyDeleteViolette P.
We live in society of big consumption. Every company relocates its factory abroad and sells its product in France. Also “limited dates of consumption” is no more take into consideration because we have 3 days (maybe more). In my opinion it’s crazy that French people throw away 20 kg of food per person, including 7 kg still packed! If we don’t eat this food don’t buy it !
DeleteM. Ribella
Very striking topics! I completely agree with Violette. Everyone knows that the waste is a horrible thing (thousands of people die every day because of a lack of food), however, no one make any effort to reduce its consumption. I must admit that the fact that hypermarkets can not give extra food they can not sell anymore is a scandal! Waste has existed for many years and it is only now that governments take concret measures! Better late than never!
ReplyDeleteGaetan.S
A Friend is working by Mac Donalds and she has me said that every day a lot of food is throw away. Then employees have to pour food some Javel ! She has asked her boss if she could take food in order to give it to poor people and he has answered “No, it’s forbidden!”. With this food waste we could feed a lot of people!
DeleteM. Ribella
There is a mobile app that has been recently launched, “leftover swap”. I've never tried it though but your phone detects when your neighbors have some food left and thanks to it you can exchange your two weeks old gratin against a slice of pizza OR you can buy at a very cheap price a homemade meal! This way people are able to swap or sale the leftovers instead of throwing it. Even though the food quality depends on your neighbor’s talent for cooking at least you will eat local, avoid any waste and meet new people!
ReplyDeleteJordane G