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About one-third of the worlds edible food is lost or wasted annually according to the food and agriculture organization. Food waste is caused by many things, markets, farmers, overproduction, consumers, grocery stores, date labels, and many more. With so many contributors to the growing 63 billion tons of waste…of which 10.1 million never get[s] harvested… and 52.4 million tons end up in landfills uneaten (Leib et al 1). With such staggering numbers, how can we individually as consumers, citizens, and lawmakers fight this growing global problem? With such a hard problem to tackle in the world, it is only through numerous small acts to make an actual difference. Through simple household and food industry efforts, we can contribute to this mass problem that is shaking our world.
We dont realize how much waste we are throwing out in our households because it gets taken away weekly. C A Tucker and T Farrelly found in New Zealand that around 44,000 tonnes of waste is dumped per year (at a cost of $106 per tonne) (684). Thats just for one country, but it is much bigger globally. Why do we as consumers waste so much? David Evans argues in Consumer Food Waste Behaviour in Universities: Sharing as a Means of Prevention.’ article that it has become habitual and even cultural for societies to do so (qtd in Lazell 430). Day routines include food waste, causing whole societies to ignore its consequence. Because societies live in a distractive technological world, we as citizens become immune to the environment. Causing food waste to increase because it is viewed as unimportant (Lazell 430).
Through small means, individuals in their households can save food and money by accurately storing them. Tristram Stuart, a food waste activator, and the author gave an example of this, in an experiment that he held with lettuce during his TEDD Talk. By placing one head of lettuce in the fridge, another on the counter, and the last in a vase with water, he observed their health over ten consecutive days. Finding that only the vase-held lettuce was in full health, and remaining too in the next two weeks, he concluded that he had found a better way to store lettuce. Evidence of his conclusion can be found in figure one below (Stuart).
If we encourage consumers to shop, store, and cook smarter, much of the food waste from households will disappear. Justin Warner, a famous television chef, informs of his experience with food waste in his position in his interview with Jared Kauffman. Giving examples such as vacuum sealers, spinach loosely packed, and buying only what is needed. Not only do consumers not know how to store food, but most are unaware of the value of food labels on our food. Chris Hunt has found that most food freshness labels for companies dont show the actual freshness of the product. In the article Food Date Labels, they define each label.:
‘production’ or ‘pack’ date the date on which the food was manufactured or placed in final packaging” ’sell by’ date used by retailers for stock control.” ’best if used by’ date generally indicates when the food will no longer be at its highest quality.” ’use by’ date typically used by manufacturers to mean the same thing as best if used by. ” ’freeze by’ date recommended date for freezing.” ’enjoy by’ date this label is used by some manufacturers
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