In Italy we waste on average every year 65 kilos of food per capita. The data emerged on the occasion of the world day against food waste: one third of the food produced globally is not eaten, but is thrown away or lost along the supply chain, as much as would be enough to feed 4 times the over 820 million malnourished people or those without access to food in the world. And the figure is destined to get worse if we consider that, by 2050, the world population should reach 10 billion people.
According to the FAO, in the world, 45% of fruit and vegetables are wasted. Waste occurs both at an industrial level, due to unfavorable climatic and environmental factors and production surpluses; both domestically, because – often – we buy too much or don't keep food well. In Italy, fruit and vegetables thrown away in stores lead to the waste of more than 73 million cubic meters of water (the one used to produce them), or 36,5 billion 2-litre bottles.
So here is an anti-waste decalogue from the Barilla Foundation:
1) Make one reasoned expense: before buying, check what you really need, make a list
2) When you cook, you do pay attention to the quantities and only cook what you can consume
3) Do pay attention to the label: always look when foods expire
4) When storing products in the refrigerator, put short-lived foods ahead and put the foods you can't eat soon in the freezer
5) do not throw away leftovers and food scraps, they can give life to new creative dishes
6) Fresh and seasonal products: give preference buying from the manufacturer
7) Did you buy too much food? Share it with your neighbors at home or invite friends to eat together
8) At the restaurant: if you have leftover food, ask for take home leftovers in a package
9) "Best before ..." means that the food is still suitable for consumption even after the indicated day. Check carefully before throwing them away
10) Use technology and look for apps that help you waste less food.
