It's estimated that the average home in the UK is throwing away at least $600 worth of food every single year.
Entire food items are being thrown into the trash, it's not just a few scraps. There are whole vegetables, entire packages of meat, and more. And it isn't only personal shoppers who are guilty of this habit but a great deal of restaurants and other businesses are as well.
It's an issue not just in the UK, but in countries around the world, including the US who happens to be credited with being in first place when it comes to food waste.
There is a tremendous amount of food that ends-up at the landfill that doesn't need to, and entrepreneurs have been looking to ways to change that.
These apps, by linking that unsold food with those who are interested, are not only helping the businesses to save money from otherwise having to ship that unwanted food themselves somewhere else, but they are also bringing more people to the store that otherwise might have been unlikely to make the visit.
In the UK, some of the largest food companies, brands, and manufacturers in the market are right now coordinating an effort to improve their food labels, in a voluntary fashion, to make it a little easier for consumers to understand.
Those behind the changes are working on new guidance that was issued by a food advisory body known as WRAP. They are currently working on making changes to reverse “Use By” labels to now say “Best Before” and they are also going to be adding information along with products that detail instructions on how to best keep them fresh for longer.
As well, the label which states it should be “[freezed] on day of purchase]” will now read “[needs to be put in freezer] before the date shown]” on a variety of meat products.
They are also going to introduce a snowflake logo that will indicate which items can be put into the freezer, and a blue fridge logo for items that can be stored for a longer period of time in the fridge.
For right now, their collective effort and commitment to try and overhaul the marketing of thousands of different products, to help consumers make better choices and keep food out of landfills, is aiming to have these changes implemented by 2025.
Aside from this effort in the UK, there are a great deal of restaurants, hotels, retailers, and other establishments, which have been looking to cut down on their waste in similar ways. Technology has made it convenient and efficient now for these companies to find a way to either sell those products at a discount or donate them to those who could really use them.
Pics:
Pixabay
pixabay
pinterest via pinterest.ca/pin/539939442798692298/
WRAP via sustainablebrands.com
Sources:
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42159434
https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2017/12/01/UK-takes-on-food-waste-with-fresh-labelling-guidance
http://www.sustainablebrands.com/news_and_views/waste_not/sustainable_brands/wrap_releases_date_label_guidance_drive_down_uk_food_was
https://www.hotelmanagement.net/food-beverage/american-hotel-lodging-association-shares-food-waste-project-results-hotel-toolkit
http://metro.co.uk/2017/11/30/food-labels-are-being-simplified-in-bid-to-cut-kitchen-waste-7122319/
https://www.newfoodmagazine.com/news/46635/blue-fridge-waste/
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-food-waste-research-money-1.4425561
https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2017/11/30/ending-the-wasted-food-run-around
Related Posts:
Drastically Reducing Food Waste With App Convenience
https://steemit.com/food/@doitvoluntarily/drastically-reducing-food-waste-with-app-convenience
A Mindful Eating Experience
https://steemit.com/food/@doitvoluntarily/a-mindful-eating-experience
Dozens of Companies Now Selling Upcycled Food Products
https://steemit.com/health/@doitvoluntarily/dozens-of-companies-now-selling-upcycled-food-products
we throw away So much. We are killing our world
Great post @doitvoluntarily ! Simplified food labels is a great idea and benefit everyone involved right down to the consumer ! Also people confused about " best before " dates and "expiration " dates ! There's a big difference , in that a lot think that if the milk says best before and its day after that , they throw it out for no reason when quite often its still good at least a week past that date even longer when stored at the right temperature ! Thanks for sharing !
Upped and resteemed to share with my foodie followers in my @momskitchen blog !
This was one of the 1st things that shocked me when I moved to UK 6 years ago...the amount if food that is thrown away..and I'm talking food that it's not even close to expiry date..
The worst and ridiculous thing in all that is that on one hand Brits throw away food that someone can easily eat and on the other hand theyre collecting money for kids starving in Africa..I can't comprehend that!
Or as you say restaurants or shop throwing away food that could e.g feed homeless people.
I could never get my head around it.
amazing how many issues we have with food and labeling.
I'm one of twenty children and throwing away food is not an option its so sad
20 kids would be a busy dinner table! lol
It was lol
Hopefully everyone will come to work for everyone. Hopefully everyone will come back to work
@doitvoluntarily very informative post! Thank you for your nice post...
This is a bit funny in UK.
I am Polish and I have moved to UK 3 years ago. The problem with English food is that it's spoiled after 2 days in fridge.
Let's take carrots.
You can buy carrots in Polish shop or directly from Farmer - you can keep them in house month or even more.
Buy carrots in English Tesco or ASDA - you can throw them to the bin after 2 days.
It's same with bread, any vegetables or fruits and meat.
I'm still wondering what is the reason?
It is true, i see the same when I conpare Poland vs UK..
But i also think it comes down how we were brought up in Poland..If my mum seen me throwing away food i would have been in trouble..
I think you will agree with that or another example: dinner leftovers we happily have it next day for lunch while in here it all goes to the bin or down the drain.
I think of all the folks who are malnourished and need food. The poor and the homeless. Less would be trashed and our world would be a better place. Yet many are afraid of a suit because of the date. The best by date is NOT an expiration date. Many and most foods are still good past the date. I often think it is a marketing ploy to move foods faster and money too. They need to offer those foods to those who need them. Good post my friend.
Hey doit cool post man..greets
I just started to put everything in the freezer if I don't use it all. That's just one way to not waste food
A great post. And it is truly shameful the amount of perfect edible wholesome food that is thrown away..and so many people are starving. It makes no sense.
I don't go by the date, but by smell and appearance.
I do hope that people will start to change their wasteful ways.
Thanks for the tips! Resteemed :)
I never read the labels! To be honest I don't shop it the supermarkets I avoid them like the plague. They destroy communities single handedly.
I digress... I just look at food if it look ok smells ok I eat it simple. Thinking for myself something many people seems to have lost the ability to do!
We are throwing out so much perfectly fine food. Improving the label is one way or donating the foods that just past or are around the best use before date to shelters to feed our fellow earthlings in need would be nice too.
posting a very good friend semogga always success