Table of Contents
Food loss and food waste, what’s the difference?
1. Leftovers
2. Food waste
The bad impact of food waste
How to manage food waste and food waste
1. Finish the food on the plate
2. Donate excess food
3. Make it animal feed
4. Compost organic waste
5. Reduce waste to landfill
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Issue
food waste
is being discussed more and more often, especially after Indonesia was included in the list of the top 10 largest food wasting countries in the world.
However, not everyone really understands what is meant by food waste, and the terms ‘food waste’ and ‘food waste’ are often confused.
In fact, understanding the differences is the key to managing food more wisely, maintaining food security, while reducing the burden on the environment.
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Food loss and food waste, what’s the difference?
Launch
Waste4Change
, FAO explains that food waste is divided into two large categories, namely food loss and food waste.
Food loss occurs when food is lost or damaged before it reaches consumers.For example, crop failure, food rotting when stored, or food damaged due to extreme weather, pests, and limited post-harvest technology.
Meanwhile, food waste is food thrown away by retailers, food service providers and consumers, even though it is still fit to eat or can actually be used up.
Shockingly, one third of the food produced in the world is never eaten.That’s the equivalent of 1.3 billion tonnes of food or the equivalent economic value of around US$1 trillion.
Bapanas Food Awareness Director, Nita Yulianis in the Expert Meeting: Strengthening Food Waste Reduction Strategies for Sustainable Gastronomy with the Indonesian Gastronomy Community (IGC) emphasized that the public needs to differentiate between these two terms:
1. Leftovers
Food waste is food that is still suitable and safe for consumption, but has the potential to be wasted if not managed.For example, a box of martabak with several pieces untouched.
This means that leftover food can still be stored, eaten again, or even donated.
2. Food waste
Food waste is food that is no longer suitable for consumption, usually in the form of food left on plates that is mixed, dirty or damaged.For example, a plate of rice and side dishes that are not finished.
Food waste can no longer be eaten by humans so it needs to be managed as organic waste.
The bad impact of food waste
Food waste is not just a matter of aesthetics or unpleasant odors.In large volumes, it can trigger disasters, such as the waste avalanche tragedy at the Leuwigajah landfill in 2005 which killed 143 people due to an explosion of methane gas from a pile of wet waste.
2017 Food Sustainability Index data shows that every Indonesian throws away 300 kg of waste per year, with more than 60 percent of it being food.If you multiply this by population, the total reaches 87 million tons of food waste per year.
“Every food that is wasted is lost nutrition and emissions that threaten the environment,” said Nita in a written statement, Monday (1/12).
How to manage food waste and food waste
To minimize environmental impacts and increase food security, management must start from homes and restaurants.Here’s a practical and easy guide:
1. Finish the food on the plate
This method is the simplest step.Take enough food, finish it, and avoid leaving food behind that eventually turns into waste.
2. Donate excess food
If you have excess food that is still suitable, you can donate it to a food bank, soup kitchen, or social community.Many retailers have also started donating items that are nearing their expiration date.
3. Make it animal feed
For food that is no longer suitable for human consumption but is still safe, this material can be used as animal feed.
4. Compost organic waste
Kitchen scraps such as fruit peels, wilted vegetables, or egg shells can be composted.However, avoid composting bones, meat, oil and dairy products as the process is more complicated.
5. Reduce waste to landfill
It is at least recommended to let food waste end up in landfill.It is there that waste produces large amounts of methane gas and accelerates the climate crisis.
(tis/tis)
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