It is estimated that in France, food waste represents around 10 million tonnes of products per year. This waste is a source of unnecessary use of natural resources and increased greenhouse gas emissions. What are we doing to limit food waste?
Food waste consists of throw away food that is still edible. It can intervene at each stage of the life of a food product, from production to its distribution, storage or consumption.
This waste of fresh and industrial food is unacceptable given the increase in food insecurity and the need to achieve carbon neutrality. Indeed, it is estimated that worldwide, 14% of food produced is lost between harvest and marketing, and that 17% of global food production total is wasted.
So here is 7 ideas and tips to help you limit food waste…
Well-organized cupboards and fridge
Perishable foods should be kept refrigerated to prevent the spread of germs and ensure they can be stored for as long as possible.
The refrigerator has different temperature zones, probably described in the refrigerator’s instructions. Certain varieties of fruits and vegetables (oranges, potatoes, etc.) will keep longer if they are not stored in the fridge.
Food lasts longer when the fridge and cupboards are clean and organized, so always keep them clean, tidy and free of crumbs. And do not store other food scraps for prevent the spread of parasites on other foods.
Store your pasta, rice packets, cereals, honey and sugar dry and at room temperature preferably in airtight containers.
Plan your purchases to avoid excesses
Plan your meals, check what foods you still have left and buy only what you really need.
Buying local products allows you to better understand the seasonal productsbut above all to avoid long transport journeys, where agricultural products tend to deteriorate. This saves energy and does something positive for the environment.
Pay attention to the cold chain
Many foods last longer when cold
- When shopping, make sure that fresh and frozen foods are not not exposed to room temperature longer than is absolutely necessary.
- On the way home, carry your food in an insulated bag. This way they stay cool.
- At home, correct sorting in the refrigerator allows you to keep food longer. Store foods with an earlier expiration date, clearly visible, up front and consume them as a priority.
And on consumption dates
To limit food waste, it is important tointerpret expiration indications correctly. There are two main types of consumption date indications:
- “to consume until…” : after the expiry of the use-by date, the food may represent a health hazard. If this type of date has expired, the product in question is considered inedible and should no longer be frozen. Examples of this type of product are fresh meat or fish.
- ” Best before… “ : this type of use-by date is an indication from the manufacturer which means that the product will not lose quality or taste until the date mentioned. Foods with this type of indication are often still edible after the date has expired. Examples of this kind of food are pasta, coffee, rice, yogurt, etc.
Be careful with promotions
Only buy foods that have been reduced in price because they are nearing their expiration date if you need them! Opt for promotions that allow you to pay less by buying more.
For example, go for the “three for the price of two” or “+20% free content” products but only if you really need the quantity offered (or if you can freeze the product). Otherwise, in addition to wasting food, you will also lose money.
Use your leftovers better to limit food waste
To limit food waste, you can also make a special effort to recycle leftovers. These can often be reused for preparing other meals.
Give free rein to your creativity, it will enrich all your meals. Use damaged fruit to make compote or leftover vegetables for prepare soups.
To illustrate this advice, here is a “special recycling” recipe to make you salivate…
Read also:
7 ideas to limit food waste
The 5 R rule to limit your waste
3 simple steps to act for the planet at your level
Zero Waste: 3 simple tips to get started
Apple peel fritters recipe
Ingredients :
150 g of well-washed apple peels,
250 g of flour,
4 egg yolks,
2 dl of milk,
1 tablespoon) peanut oil,
4 egg whites, 2 g of salt,
5 cl of rum,
20 g of sugar,
20 g of icing sugar,
cinnamon
Preparation :
- Roll each apple peel on itself to form a small bush.
- Avoid overtightening it and secure it with a toothpick.
- Sprinkle the peelings with the 20 g of sugar and flavor them with the rum.
- For the dough, sift the flour into a basin and make a fountain.
- Add the egg yolks, oil and salt.
- Mix everything with a whisk without leaving any lumps.
- Cover with a kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes.
- Just before use, beat the egg whites until stiff and gently incorporate them into the mixture.
- Dip the peel rolls in the batter and let drain before frying at 150°C for 5 minutes.
- Let drain on absorbent paper and sprinkle with icing sugar, flavor as desired with cinnamon.
