How to start a healthy-lunch club
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Current statistics reveal that a third of food produced in South Africa is tossed in the bin. In a country where 25% of the population goes to bed hungry, food waste is an unsustainable practice. While much of this takes place at the food-supply chain level, there are ways you can help.
According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report Food Loss and Waste: Facts and Futures, 10 million tons of food end up in our bins. South Africa is right on trend with the rest of the world, throwing out an estimated 210kg of food per person per year.
Much of this happens along the food-supply chain (on farms, during transportation and in retail stores) due to improper procedures. Ironically, it is the strict government regulations to ensure a certain level of freshness that results in food that is still edible being thrown out.
Food loss also negatively affects our natural resources and food prices. ‘Water and energy costs, together with the cost of disposing of the waste, means that food wastage comes at a very high price to the South African economy and environment,’ states the WWF report. Additionally, it influences the competitiveness of the food production industry, increasing the cost of food overall, and decreasing retail wages and job availability.
The goal to change the problem, however, can only be reached by working together to reduce waste on all levels, households included. 90% of the wasted food in homes makes its way to our landfills, where it emits methane gas and carbon dioxide – both greenhouse gases connected to disruptive climate change.
Saving food in the home will not only reduce your grocery budget, but will also contribute to the nationwide efforts to save food, money and resources. Here are some practical tips:
The information is shared on condition that readers will make their own determination, including seeking advice from a healthcare professional. E&OE.
References:
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