Instead of finishing your leftovers, you let them go bad and buy takeout.
It91裸聊视频檚 a familiar routine for many 91裸聊视频� and indicative of habits that contribute to a global food waste problem that a new United Nations report says needs to be better measured so that it can be effectively addressed.
The U.N. report estimates 17% of the food produced globally each year is wasted. That amounts to 931 million metric tons (1.03 billion tons) of food.
The waste is far more than previous reports had indicated, though direct comparisons are difficult because of differing methodologies and the lack of strong data from many countries.
91裸聊视频淚mproved measurement can lead to improved management,91裸聊视频� said Brian Roe, a food waste researcher at Ohio State University who was not involved in the report.
Most of the waste 91裸聊视频� or 61% 91裸聊视频� happens in households, while food service accounts for 26% and retailers account for 13%, the U.N. found. The U.N. is pushing to reduce food waste globally, and researchers are also working on an assessment of waste that includes the food lost before reaching consumers.
The authors note the report seeks to offer a clearer snapshot of the scale of a problem that has been difficult to assess, in hopes of spurring governments to invest in better tracking.
91裸聊视频淢any countries haven91裸聊视频檛 yet quantified their food waste, so they don91裸聊视频檛 understand the scale of the problem,91裸聊视频� said Clementine O91裸聊视频機onnor, of the U.N. Environment Program and co-author of the report.
Food waste has become a growing concern because of the environmental toll of production, including the land required to raise crops and animals and the greenhouse gas emissions produced along the way. Experts say improved waste tracking is key to finding ways to ease the problem, such as programs to divert inedible scraps to use as animal feed or fertilizer.
The report found food waste in homes isn91裸聊视频檛 limited to higher income countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom.
Roe of Ohio State noted that food sometimes is wasted in poor countries without reliable home refrigeration. In richer countries, people might eat out more, meaning food waste is simply shifted from the home to restaurants.
Roe said cultural norms and policies also could contribute to waste at home 91裸聊视频� such as massive packaging, 91裸聊视频渂uy one, get one free91裸聊视频� deals, or lack of composting programs.
That91裸聊视频檚 why broader system changes are key to helping reduce waste in households, said Chris Barrett, an agricultural economist at Cornell University.
For example, Barrett said, people might throw away food because of a date on the product 91裸聊视频� even though such dates don91裸聊视频檛 always say when a food is unsafe to eat. 91裸聊视频淔ood waste is a consequence of sensible decisions by people acting on the best information available,91裸聊视频� he said.
To clarify the meaning of labeling dates, U.S. regulators have urged food makers to be more consistent in using them. They note that labels like 91裸聊视频淪ell By91裸聊视频�, 91裸聊视频淏est By91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频滶njoy By91裸聊视频� could cause people to throw out food prematurely, even though some labels are intended only to indicate when quality might decline.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that a family of four wastes about $1,500 in food each year. But accurately measuring food waste is difficult for a variety of reasons including data availability, said USDA food researcher Jean Buzby, adding that improved measurements are part of a government plan to reduce waste.
Richard Swannell, a co-author of the U.N. report, said food was generally more valued even in richer countries just a few generations ago, since people often couldn91裸聊视频檛 afford to waste it. Now, he said, awareness about the scale of food waste globally could help shift attitudes back to that era.
91裸聊视频淔ood is too important to waste,91裸聊视频� he said.
