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Consumers' approach to food waste
Table of Contents
1. Scope of the phenomenon
Progressive globalisation and the development of civilization around the world are increasing the scale of food production, processing and consumption, resulting in huge losses of raw materials and waste management problems, which have a negative impact on the overall environment, the food economy and, above all, on the well-being of society as a whole. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), up to one-third of food produced is wasted every year. A significant proportion of food is already wasted in the production and distribution stages of food, and the role of individual households in food production is also significant.2. The current consumer approach
Despite multi-pronged actions and social campaigns aimed at educating consumers, the main causes of food waste in households remain worrying: poor public awareness of food surplus management methods (65.2%), planning, making purchases and preparing meals later in such a way as to avoid excess food. According to a report by the Federation of Polish Food Banks published in October 2020.3. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on eating habits
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected many aspects of daily life, which in consequence has led to an increase in the number of people eating, especially food habits. Widespread restrictions, the need for isolation, often also the renunciation of daily physical activity have contributed to the deterioration of the general physical and mental state of society. The epidemiological situation in the world has forced many people to stay at home, resulting in a decrease in the amount of food they eat, especially the nutritional habits of those who live in isolation.4. Limiting the waste of food at home ways
Before you go shopping, you should first check the contents of the cabinets and refrigerators and the dates of the products for consumption. This allows you to determine what you really need. It is also worth considering what foods will be prepared in the next few days, so that you can avoid buying unnecessary products that will be discarded due to a lack of idea of how to use them. On this basis you should prepare a list of purchases. You should not go to the store hungry, as this increases the likelihood of buying additional, most often high-processed, products with an attractive appearance or smell. When buying food products you should check the labels carefully.5. Organization in the kitchen
Products purchased must be stored in cabinets and refrigerators according to the FIFO (first in, first out) principle, that is, nearest to the front of the cabinet, refrigerators we store those products that have the shortest expiration date. Good practice is also to mark the opening date of the packaging. This ensures that they are safe and do not have adverse health consequences. When planning meals for a given day, it is worth focusing on finding out what is already in the household, pre-purchased products or foods.6. Management of household food supplies
Proper food storage and inventory management are extremely important. It is important to know the conditions under which individual products are to be stored to avoid loss. At room temperature, products such as baked goods, pasta, cassava, flour, oils and oils, beverages, sugar, certain concentrates can be kept. Other products, such as legumes, cocoa, meat, eggs, ready-to-eat foods, require proper refrigeration, which allows them to retain their organoleptic properties (taste, color, smell) and health.7. Preserving food
Food preservation plays a significant role in reducing food waste at home. Among the various methods of food preservation, one of the most popular is freezing. It allows for a significant degree of preservation of the properties of a fresh food product such as color, taste, smell, and also minimizes loss of nutritional value. It is worth mentioning a study conducted in Australia.8. Checking dates for food intake
It is also very important to check the date on which the product is fit for consumption. It should be borne in mind, however, that the best-to-consume information specifies the date of its minimum shelf life, indicates how long the product will retain its specific properties when properly stored. The information on the suitability to consume indicates a date after which the consumption of the food will be uncertain and may be detrimental to the health of the consumer. Limiting the waste of food in households is one of the key factors that can affect the issue of food waste.
