Reclaiming `waste' food could feed 800m hungry around the world
Subodh Ghildiyal Ankara
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Cereals and food products thrown away from fridges unused or from store shelves after the “sell-by“ date may feed the 800 million going hungry every day around the globe.The G20, in its bid to fix the problem of food losswastage, has found that “perfectly nutritious food“ was being wasted because it remained unsold on its “sell-by“ date or owing to the demanding specifications of food processors.It is felt this food can be “recovered and redistributed“ across many countries.
“The recovery and redistribution of such food is an initiative the G20 is seeking to encourage,“ a key G20 official said, indicating the issue may figure on top of suggest ions to curb food wastage.
Concern over rampant food deprivation co-existing with the luxury of surplus and quality-driven dumping tops the priority closer to a G20 commitment on curbing the menace at the Turkey summit in November.
The waste figures are staggering. As per findings available with the G20, fruits, vegetables, cereals and rootstubers account for 80% of the food lost or wasted. Crucially, 60% of roots-tubers available are wasted while 40% of fruits and vegetables, and 25% of cereals, go waste.
Perishable products run greater risk of being spoilt, largely owing to inadequate storage and transport facilities. Besides fruits and vegetables, 25% of fish and seafood is lost or wasted, while the figure stands at 20% for meat and dairy products.Overall, around 30% of total global food is thrown away .
Given the linkage between waste and hunger, a G20 technical platform will establish a common measurement system to estimate food loss.“Countries can use it to monitor the problem and the progress made in reducing it,“ the official said. The November summit may adopt the common formula being devised.
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“The recovery and redistribution of such food is an initiative the G20 is seeking to encourage,“ a key G20 official said, indicating the issue may figure on top of suggest ions to curb food wastage.
Concern over rampant food deprivation co-existing with the luxury of surplus and quality-driven dumping tops the priority closer to a G20 commitment on curbing the menace at the Turkey summit in November.
The waste figures are staggering. As per findings available with the G20, fruits, vegetables, cereals and rootstubers account for 80% of the food lost or wasted. Crucially, 60% of roots-tubers available are wasted while 40% of fruits and vegetables, and 25% of cereals, go waste.
Perishable products run greater risk of being spoilt, largely owing to inadequate storage and transport facilities. Besides fruits and vegetables, 25% of fish and seafood is lost or wasted, while the figure stands at 20% for meat and dairy products.Overall, around 30% of total global food is thrown away .
Given the linkage between waste and hunger, a G20 technical platform will establish a common measurement system to estimate food loss.“Countries can use it to monitor the problem and the progress made in reducing it,“ the official said. The November summit may adopt the common formula being devised.
For the full report, log on to http:www.timesofindia.com
