Why, How and Where Does Food Waste Occur?

Food waste occurs for different reasons at each stage of the supply chain. The main points and causes of food waste are discussed below.

A. Supply Chain and Production Process:

Losses in Agriculture:

Diseases, pests and climate change: The deterioration of agricultural products in the field due to diseases, pests or climatic conditions is a common problem.

Early harvest or late harvest: Improperly timed harvests result in poor quality or damaged crops.

Salinity, drought and over-irrigation: When water resources are not managed properly, this reduces production yields.

Waste in the Production Process:

Technological deficiencies: Equipment used in agriculture may not be efficient enough, leading to crop losses.

Improper processing or packaging: Errors in food processing and packaging lead to product spoilage.

B. Retail and Points of Sale:

Waste in Grocery Stores and Supermarkets:

Consumer demands and aesthetic standards: Grocers often organize their shelves aesthetically and tend to discard products that look defective or are nearing their expiration date.

Overstocking and improper storage: Products spoil due to improper storage, disruption of the cold chain and overstocking.

Mislabeling and expiry dates: Products approaching their expiry date are pulled from shelves and thrown away, even though some of them are still consumable.

Waste in Restaurants and Hotels:

Preparation and portioning errors: Restaurants prepare food in large quantities, leading to an increasing amount of waste. Portions may be too large or dishes may be unnecessarily over-prepared.

Inaccurate estimation of customer demand: Especially in large hotels and restaurants, excess food is prepared when demand forecasts are incorrect, leading to waste.

Cumbersome serving processes: Food can be wasted by being reclaimed from plates or tables during service. Leftovers are also often thrown away.

C. Food Waste at Home:

Causes of Food Waste at Home:

Improper planning and excessive shopping: Most people do not plan clearly what to buy and buy too much food. This food is wasted as the expiry date passes.

Improper storage: When food is not stored in proper conditions, it spoils quickly, especially fruits and vegetables. Meat and dairy products can also be wasted in this way.

Leftovers: Failure to store food properly can result in it not being eaten and being thrown away.

Consumer Habits:

Consumption habits: Consumers buying unnecessarily large portions can make food inedible.

Misunderstanding of food labels: Misunderstandings about expiration dates can lead to food being thrown away.

D. Where Does Food Waste Occur?

In Fields and Production Areas:

Food is often lost due to natural disasters, pests or improper harvesting techniques.

Efforts to increase agricultural productivity sometimes lead to overproduction of certain types of food and waste of natural resources.

In the Supply Chain:

1-Losses during transportation: Improper transportation conditions can lead to product damage.

Storage deficiencies: Breaking the cold chain or storing food in the wrong conditions can lead to product spoilage.

2-Retail and Point of Sale:

Products with a short shelf life and improper storage methods lead to food waste.

3-Homes and Restaurants:

Unnecessary food preparation at home and improper storage are the main causes of food waste.

In restaurants, leftovers and portioning errors are other factors leading to food waste.