The Wasting of Perfectly Good Food
When was the last time you ate bubble and squeak? Do you even know what bubble and squeak is?
Well it is a time honored way of using up vegetables after a Sunday lunch, or any vegetables left over from a meal for that matter.
Problem is most people throw all of the left overs in the bin instead of the frying pan. This is not good news, for the climate, or for bio-diversity.
In the UK we throw away millions of tonnes every year the carbon footprint of this waste food is the same as 25% of all of the cars on the road in the UK. No small amount.
So as well, turning the light off, and half filling the kettle, maybe have bubble and squeak for tea next monday night!
“The British may waste more food than any other nation, throwing out 30-40% of all the produce they buy and grow each year, according to research. Figures collated from the government, supermarkets, processors and farmers” Guardian
How did we get in this ridiculous position, what must the rest of the world think, do you not think this is embarrassing for the UK as a country? So what causes this waste:
Food Waste Problem 1
Farmers are expected to supply the model apple, carrot, cabbage etc. to meet the supermarkets extremely rigorous selection process. Any foods that do not meet the standard go in the bin. . bye bye.
We are not talking about seriously bad fruit and vegetables here we are talking minor cosmetic marks, shape and size. Nothing which would effect how edible or nutritious the fruit and vegetables might be.
Solution 1: Support shops that sell “wonky” veg. You local green grocer might, and Morrisons actually sell vegetable branded as “wonky”.
Food Waste Problem 2
Buying practices. Buy one get one free on strawberries, woo hoo. Problem is you eat the first punnet and then don’t really feel like more, and before you know it they have gone all fluffy.
Solution: Shop more often and buy less each time.
Food Waste Problem 3
Imports. Mr Mango is picked very under-ripe in mango land, shipped for weeks across oceans in cool storage, and then plonked in the fruit bowl in your house. Tiered and travel sick, mr mango goes rotten within three days and is thrown away.
Solaution: Stick to seasonal produce.
Food Waste Problem 4
Use by dates. People stick religiously to use by dates. Chill out give what ever it is a sniff, and chances are it will be OK (no responsibility taken if you die in screaming agony), yoghurts are a classic. My personal records is six weeks over the sell by date, and It tasted no different to a fresh one.
Solution: Learn to judge whether food is safe to eat regardless of use by dates.
Food Waste Problem 5
The weekly shop. When I was a student come the end of the week I would be eating raw pasta with vinegar on it. Now I am grown up I don’t like to run out of food, so I buy a bit extra when I go shopping, to make sure I don’t. Problem is it is hard to judge just how much extra. . . . so some of it goes rotten / stale and goes in the bin. Sound familiar?
Solution: Only buy perishable food that you are sure you can use. If you are worried about running out then stock a few canned foods at home, so they won’t go to waste if you don’t use them. Tinned food keeps pretty much forever. Did you know there is a market from canned food from World War 2. People still eat it.
Environmental Consultants Bristol
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