Food Waste Threatens Our Planet

Food Waste Is Threatening Our Planet According to the Food Waste Index Report, one third of food produced globally is wasted. According to the same report, Turkey ranks 16th in the world with 93 kilograms of food waste per capita. MÜMSAD Chairman Ebru Akdağ, warning about the growing waste, stated: "Steps must be taken to raise awareness about food waste for the future of humanity." According to the Food Waste Index Report 2021 prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its partner organization WRAP, an estimated 931 million tons of food was wasted globally in 2019. Of this waste, 61 percent comes from households, 26 percent from food services, and 13 percent from retail sales.

931 Million Tons of Food Wasted Every Year

Mutfak Ürünleri ve Margarin Sanayicileri Derneği (MÜMSAD) Chairman Ebru Akdağ, emphasizing that the Food Waste Index Report is one of the most comprehensive studies conducted on waste to date, stated: "According to the report, one third of food produced globally every year is wasted. We talk about sustainable production for the benefit of humanity and our planet, but we do not adequately address the errors in our consumption. Approximately 8 to 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from food thrown away without being consumed. The amount of food wasted in the United States and European countries could feed three times the world's population."

Turkey Ranks 16th in Food Waste

Noting that Turkey's waste record needs to be improved according to the UN Waste Report 2021, Ebru Akdağ continued her remarks as follows: "26 million tons of food are lost every year in Turkey. In the global ranking of food waste per capita, we unfortunately rank 16th. We must raise awareness through integrated steps that need to be taken in this area. We should help producers reduce losses by adopting better harvesting, processing, storage and marketing methods, and we must combine this with fundamental and lasting changes in the way people consume food. Only in this way can we have a healthier world without hunger."

Fruits and Vegetables Wasted the Most

According to the results of the "Food Loss and Label Reading Research" conducted by the Food Safety Association, fruits and vegetables account for 42 percent and dairy and dairy products for 41 percent of waste generated in households. According to the same research, 72 percent of consumers do not know the difference between "Use By Date" and "Best Before Date," leading them to throw away consumable products in the trash. The loss resulting from this incorrect behavior is estimated at 29 billion dollars. Food engineer Ebru Akdağ, emphasizing that food literacy needs to be increased, stated: "We must discard a food product once its Use By Date is reached because consumption after that date creates a food safety risk; however, this generally does not apply to food with a Best Before Date. The Best Before Date is the time period during which the food can maintain its sensory and nutritional value at the highest level. If the storage conditions on the label have been met, the packaging is intact, and the smell, taste and appearance are normal, food with a Best Before Date can be consumed after that date as well."