Globally, a third of food ends up being wasted or even lost. To avoid the waste of food and drink at home, several precautions can be taken, both during shopping and when sitting down to eat. But also after…
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[EN VIDÉO] Modern food: the great advances and failures of half a century Is the food industry feeding us badly? Yes and no, demonstrates Dr. Cocaul, nutritionist and columnist at Futura. Our modern food is plentiful and well secured. However, the preparations and packaging are too attractive, while the reinforcement of sugar and salt makes it too rich, causing real epidemics, starting with obesity.
In France alone, the food waste accounts each year for a weight of some 10 million tonnes. A mess that affects all players in the food chain: from production to distribution and processing. In the world, 1/3 of the food intended for human consumption is wasted in this way. According to a study by the French Environment and Control Agencyenergy (Ademe), 2018 update, food waste at home is responsible for nearly 20% of losses. Each year, on average, there are 30 kg per capita, including 7 kg of food products still packaged.
Figures that challenge, especially since limiting food waste responds to a triple challenge. From an environmental point of view, it wastes important natural resources and emits unnecessary greenhouse gases. From an economic point of view, throwing away food is wasting money : nearly 160 euros per person per year, in France. Finally, from an ethical point of view, food waste raises questions in a world plagued by well-established food and economic crises. Worldwide, a third of food intended for human consumption is wasted.
Since 2013, the public authorities have set themselves the objective for 2025 of reducing food waste by 50%. To achieve this, some advice for households.
Avoid food waste while shopping
Rather than improvising at the supermarket, prepare a shopping list to avoid compulsive shopping and food waste. Buy what you need, depending on the number of people and the quantities eaten. Do not be tempted by tempting offers that offer you two packages for the price of one, if you know in advance that you won’t be able to consume it all. In store, also remember to check the expiry dates food. On the other hand, you should also know that there are expired foods that you can still eat. Thus, it is not dangerous to consume after the deadline the products having the mention ” Best before» such as cookies.
Dealing with food waste at home
At home, start by consuming foods that spoil quickly. To better ensure your stocks, you can freeze certain products. Indicate on these the date of packaging to know where you are and to avoid food waste. Use your fridge so as to keepeye the most fragile products. And note, for example, that even if the gate of your similar fridge perfectly adapted to accommodate your opened milk bottles, it is preferable to store them further inside to prevent your milk from getting a little hot each time you open it.
Reminder: for good store your foodthe temperature of your fridge should not exceed 6°C.
Dealing with food waste at the table
Instead of throwing away leftovers, save them for the next meal, or invent receipts depending on the remaining food. You can easily make soup, sauce, or even hash with leftover meat. Leftover bread can be made sweet (French toast) or savory (croutons, stuffing, Savoyard fondue) or even used to prepare breadcrumbs that will keep for about three months.
As a last resort — because these uses are generally considered a form of food waste — some leftover food can also be used to feed our pets or those of a shelter. Others can be used to make compost.
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