Concerted strategy to reduce food waste

The results of a study on food waste in Portugal recently published by the media indicate that our country annually wastes 1 million tons of food. Accordingly, each person contributes by wasting 97 kg of food per year.

There are many causes for this excess waste, such as the servings made available - bought and served while not being adjusted to the needs of each individual. Other factors include the economic crisis, agricultural sustainability and the prevention of health problems, among others. The Portuguese Association of Dietitians (APD) advocates a concerted strategy against food waste focused on its main cause - the industry (food and catering) and the consumer.

The food industry has increased the supply of so-called "family" units and special offers, offering greater amounts of food for a lower price. These special offers do not always prove to be advantageous since the consumers purchase larger quantities than they need and may not consume all they bought, making this option more expensive than the standard offer of the product. The catering industry has also made available dysfunctional doses in relation to the recommended nutritional and energy needs, both in terms of quantity and the proportion provided per meal. The increase in portions is partly due to the increase in the size of plates and glasses.

The APD makes some simple suggestions to avoid food waste in our everyday lives:

- Make a weekly plan of meals and their purchases, carefully checking the expiry dates of food;

- Shop after taking a meal so you don't buy food you don't need;

- Evaluate the benefits of special offers, checking if the quantities are what you need;

- Buy loose and not pre-packaged foods, as this is also often more cost-effective;

- Divide food in large packages into portions and adequately store those not for immediate consumption;

- Use the leftovers of meals to make other dishes, complying with hygiene and food safety rules.