The scandal of food waste and how we can stop it
Every informed observer agrees that food waste and loss must be reduced if we are to feed all humans. What’s stopping us?
In traditional societies, little to no food goes to waste. Every edible part of an animal or plant is utilised. Researchers found that the members of a Maasai cattle herding community in northern Tanzania were outraged at the thought of intentionally wasting food, calling those who would do so “lunatics”. Some even said it was worse than killing a person, because murder leads to one death, whereas wasting food could result in several.
Attitudes towards waste are very different in industrialised nations. The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) estimates that 17% of total global food production is wasted and around the same amount lost, meaning that around a third of food produced is not consumed. The global average for household waste is 74kg per person annually, and this figure is broadly similar for lower-, middle- and high-income countries.
Continue reading...Date: |
Topics
-
Top stories - NBC News
Sen. Warren and Rep. Dean demand major food and beverage CEOs stop 'shrinkflation'
In letters sent to General Mills, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, the legislators asked the corporations to end their “pattern of profiteering.”21 hours ago -
Top stories - CBS News
"Mornings Memory:" How GPS changed how we travel
In today's "Mornings Memory," we revisit life before the convenience of built-in GPS systems, when many relied on printed MapQuest directions or devices like the TomTom.16 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
How the US can help Lebanon move past Hezbollah
The current ruling class in Lebanon must overcome its own Stockholm syndrome.14 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
‘Rutger Hauer said he didn’t play bad guys’: how we made chiller classic The Hitcher
‘Rutger seemed to terrify everyone on the set and was pretty much left alone. I once went to his trailer for lunch and we sat in dead silence as he chain-smoked’. The screenwriter Eric Red said the ...16 hours ago -
Health - ABC News
A peek inside human brain shows a way it cleans out waste
Researchers found a network of tiny waste-clearing channels in the brain.2 hours ago -
Tech - Wired
Hurricane Helene Couldn’t Stop Birders From Using eBird
Since 2002, birders have relied on the online bird-watching log eBird. As Hurricane Helene tore through North Carolina, bird-watchers continued to post.11 hours ago -
Politics - The Hill
Democrats accuse food, beverage companies of ‘profiteering’ through ‘shrinkflation’
Two Democratic lawmakers have sent a letter to some of the country’s biggest food and beverage companies arguing they are “profiteering” through “shrinkflation,” the practice of reducing product ...15 hours ago -
Top stories - The New York Times
Have We Reached Peak Human Life Span?
After decades of rising life expectancy, the increases appear to be slowing. A new study calls into question how long even the healthiest of populations can live.13 hours ago -
Top stories - CBS News
Can gun storage initiatives help prevent suicides?
Advocates for these initiatives say they can save lives through safely storing firearms for people at risk of suicide.4 hours ago
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Middle East crisis live: Hezbollah rockets target Tel Aviv base after Israel strikes Beirut
Israeli military says some rockets launched from Lebanon fell in open areas, after Lebanese media report two raids on Beirut’s southern suburbs. World leaders mark first anniversary of 7 October ...24 minutes ago - Israel -
World - The Guardian
Rape trial verdict of main suspect in McCann disappearance expected in Germany
Christian Brückner has been on trial over alleged rape of three women and two charges of child sexual abuse in Portugal. A verdict in the rape trial of a man who is the main suspect in the ...2 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Kamala Harris faces 60 Minutes grilling over economic plans and whether Netanyahu is an ‘ally’
In a wide-ranging interview with CBS’s 60 Minutes, the vice-president was questioned on where her political positions had shifted. Kamala Harris defended her economic plans, refused to call ...2 hours ago - Kamala Harris -
World - The Guardian
Deforestation ‘roaring back’ despite 140-country vow to end destruction
Demand for beef, soy, palm oil and nickel hindering efforts to halt demolition by 2030, global report finds. The destruction of global forests increased in 2023, and is higher than when 140 ...2 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Beer can artwork accidentally thrown in bin by staff member at Dutch museum
A mechanic working at the LAM museum in Lisse assumed the artwork, entitled All The Good Times We Spent Together, was rubbish . A Dutch museum has recovered an artwork that looks like two empty ...7 hours ago