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Food waste 21st century problem
Table of Contents
1. Food waste as a global problem
As mentioned at the outset, about 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually in the world, including parts of edible products. Overall, it is estimated that 1.6 billion tons of food products are wasted each year in the trash. In the European Union alone, 88 million tonnes are lost. Most waste is generated by consumers and processors. According to statistics in one European household, 20 30% of purchased food is thrown away, with 2⁄3 of that food still worth eating.2. Causes of food discard
Food waste can occur at any stage of production and distribution. Furthermore, Poles as consumers (domestic households) and producers can also discard it. According to the Food Bank report, the aim of which is to combat food waste, among the most frequently cited causes of food waste by Poles are the omission of the eligibility period for consumption and the making of oversized purchases. Moreover, Polish consumers as producers have also indicated a lack of knowledge about the proper storage of food and the lack of skills and ideas to reuse a product that has not been used to the end in the mainstream food economy.3. The effects of food waste
The problem of food waste can be looked at in a social, ecological or economic sense. In a social sense, it should be noted that on the one hand, many people cannot afford or have no access to good quality food. On the other hand, tons of food is wasted and goes to waste. Given the world's problems of poverty and hunger, the waste of food by 250 water consumers in the developed world is considered unethical.4. Ways to reduce food waste
Any time is a good time to change bad habits, so we can use our planet.. by applying a few simple principles to reduce food loss.5. Planning groceries and menus
Before you go to the store, you should make a list of the products you need. You should check your refrigerator and kitchen cabinets in advance. You also need to check the dates of product availability so you know what to use first. A good way to prevent food waste is to create a menu for a few days.6. It's the right storage
If we shop less often, it is justified to stock up more. Then it is also extremely important to store food properly. Many products can be stored at room temperature, e.g. bread, flour, pasta, cassava, sugar, oil, oils, beverages and some concentrates. However, some products must be kept in cold conditions, i.e. at a lower temperature.7. It's the culinary imagination
Let's not be afraid to experiment in the kitchen and try new things -- products that are lacking in the refrigerator or kitchen cabinets, use them to prepare new and healthy meals -- we can look for inspiration in cookbooks or on blogs and cooking websites.8. Reading product labels
The packaging of foodstuffs always indicates the date of consumption. If the information shows that it is best to consume it before. this means that the product must be consumed before that date, since until then it will retain its properties (of course, provided that it has been stored under appropriate conditions).9. Application of appropriate methods of food preservation
There are many methods for extending the shelf life of products: freezing, drying, preserving, pasteurizing, marinating.10. Application of the FIFO (first in, first out) principle
Let's try to consume short-lived products first and reach out to those we've bought before.11. Record the date of opening of the product
Food packaging shows the expiration date for food, but it applies to sealed products. Once the product is opened, its shelf life is significantly reduced, usually manufacturers suggest consuming it within 24 days. To prevent food from being wasted, you should also carefully read the labels of food items.
