A new study is attracting much attention. Amidst
global food shortages and soaring prices, each day Britain throws away 550,000
chickens and 660,000 eggs, amongst other food items.
According to
WRAP,
an organisation aimed at helping individuals, businesses and local authorities
to reduce waste and recycle more, the government-backed study states that the
annual total of wasted products adds up to a record £10 bln (€12.7 bln; US$19.6
bln). The study concludes that each day, the following is wasted: 220,000 loaves
of bread, 1.6 mln bananas, 550,000 chickens, 5.1 mln potatoes, 660,000 eggs, 1.2
mln sausages, 4.4 mln apples and 440,000 ready meals.
It is also reported that government researchers have established that most
of the food waste is made up of completely untouched food products, typically
whole chickens that lie uneaten in cupboards and fridges before being
discarded.
Waste campaign
The Government's waste campaign
Wrap (Waste & Resources Action Programme) revealed the
extent of Britain's throwaway food culture after sifting through the dustbins of
2,138 people who signed up to an audit of food detritus.
Launching the report The Food We Waste today Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive
of WRAP, described the findings as “shockingâ€. “Food waste has a significant
environmental impact. This research confirms that it is an issue for us all,
whether as consumers, retailers, local or central government. I believe it
will spark a major debate about the way food is packaged, sold, stored at home,
cooked and then collected when it is thrown out.“
Amid global food crisis
The study is published as millions around the world are suffering due to
the global food crisis caused by rising populations, droughts and increased
demand for land for biofuels.
In Britain, it emerged that food prices rose 4.7% in the past month. The
soaring cost of wheat has increased food prices in the UK by up to 11% in the
past year.
Shocking results, says minister
Environment minister, Joan Ruddock, said: "These findings are staggering in
their own right, but at a time when global food shortages are in the headlines
this kind of wastefulness becomes even more shocking. This is costing consumers
three times over. Not only do they pay hard-earned money for food they don't
eat, there is also the cost of dealing with the waste this creates. And there
are climate- change costs to all of us of growing, processing, packaging,
transporting and refrigerating food that only ends up in the bin. Preventing
waste in the first place has to remain a top priority."