In the developed world, food waste has become a serious environmental issue. It’s estimated that nearly one-third of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste. While many people are aware of the problem, very few seem to be doing anything about it. In this post by Darren Dohme, we’ll take a look at some of the countries with the worst records for food wastage.
Darren Dohme’s List of Countries with Highest Food Wastage
Denmark
Denmark is a country with a high level of food waste. According to Darren Dohme, the country throws away approximately 1.2 million tons of food annually. This equals about one-third of all the food that is produced in Denmark.
According to Darren Dohme, the main reasons for this high level of food wastage are poor planning, overbuying, and expiration date confusion. In addition, Denmark has a large livestock industry, which contributes to food waste levels.
A study by the University of Copenhagen found that up to 25% of all piglets born in Denmark are killed and discarded because they do not meet industry standards. As a result, Denmark’s high level of food wastage has environmental and animal welfare implications.
Netherlands
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the country throws away nearly 1.3 million tons of food each year. This is equivalent to about 10 percent of all the food that is produced in the country.
The main reasons for this waste are bad storage practices, a lack of knowledge about expiration dates, and overbuying. In addition, the country has a high rate of meat consumption, which contributes to the problem.
To address this issue, the government has launched a campaign to educate people about food waste and encourage them to donate surplus food to charities.
In addition, many supermarkets now offer discounts on foods that are close to expiration. These efforts are beginning to make a difference, and the Netherlands is slowly becoming a leader in the fight against food waste.
Germany
According to a report by the FAO, Germany is one of the countries with the highest levels of food wastage. In fact, it is estimated that each German citizen wastes an average of 180 kg of food per year.
This is a problem not only because it leads to wasted resources but also because it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. When food rots in landfill sites, it releases methane, a gas that is far more potent than carbon dioxide.
As a result, food wastage is a major contributor to climate change. There are many ways to reduce food wastage, including investing in better storage facilities, developing new food production methods, and changing consumer habits.
Malaysia
According to a report by the Malaysian government, each person in Malaysia wastes an average of 2.5 kg of food per day. That’s a total of 75 million kg of food wasted every day!
The report also found that most of the food wasted was fruits and vegetables (40%), followed by meat and poultry (30%). While there are many reasons for this high level of food wastage, one major contributing factor is the lack of awareness about the issue.
In addition, many Malaysians do not have access to proper storage facilities, which can lead to spoilage. However, there are some simple steps that everyone can take to help reduce food wastage.
For example, we can plan our meals ahead of time so that we only buy the ingredients we need. We can also store food properly to extend its shelf life. We can make a difference in the fight against food waste by working together.
Darren Dohme’s Concluding Thoughts
Food waste is a global issue that requires the attention of all. The countries with the highest food wastage are some of the most developed in the world, and their citizens have access to more food than any other people on earth. According to Darren Dohme, this paradoxical situation must be addressed if we want to make significant progress in the fight against hunger and malnutrition