FOOD WASTE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 23, 10 November 1944, Page 3

FOOD WASTE

AMERICAN ESTIMATE CARELESSNESS MAIN FACTOR How much food is wasted in our homes? Recently the American Food Distribution Organisation made a special inquiry into food waste, and published its findings under the title: "Reduce America's Waste Line." The American report listed the main causes of food -waste in the home as follows:—■ 1. Unplanned buying. If quantities aren't balanced, some food will not be used. 2. Improper storage. Food stored at too high or too low a temperature will spoil easilj'. 3. Failure to plan use. of leftovers. The refregirator (the safe in most New Zealand homes) is often merely a way-station on the road to the rubbish-tin. 4. Unpalatable preparation 'of food. 5. Over-generous, especially to children and guests. C. Failure to use all portions of food. (a) Peeling potatoes results in the discard of from one-fourth to onetenth of the weight and even more of the vitamin and mineral values. (b) The most nourishing leaves of the cabbage and lettuce are the outer leaves yet tlicy are seldom used. (c) Many people discard the heels of «a loaf of bread—thus throwing away one-tenth of the loaf. Consider how much more bread is wasted by careless toasting, by bread mould and by simply throwing away pieces which have been taken on the plate. If every American family wasted only one slice a week (and the real wastage is far greater) that would make 100 million loaves a year. Every religion includes a prayer for daily bread, yet we arc very wasteful of it. (d) A little dab of butter here and there gets thrown away. It is never very much, but it is calculated that if every civilian saved half an ounce of butter a week it woultl provide enough butter for a fair-sized army. (c) How much needless food waste is caused by our rules of etiquette? Can we afford in to refuse to let Johnny pick his bones, tip his plate for the last of his soup 4 or soak up his gravy with bread? "We can imagine the outcry that would ensue if all grocers required each shopper to' throw 15 cents of every dollar into a hopper at. the front of the store where it would be chewed up and discarded," states the American report. "Yet what actually happens is worse. The money is spent for food to be wasted. Labour is required to grow, harvest and process that wasted food. Transportation and warehouse facilities are required to get it to market. Retail shop assistants must display and sell it. Garbage trucks and men must lie emploj'ed to pick it up and haul it. away."