Food Wastage

[Sriram]

Hi everyone,

Here is an article about food wastage in the US.

http://us.cnn.com/2015/05/14/us/cnn-heroes-lee/index.html

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One in six Americans struggles with food insecurity. Yet in the United States, 40% of food goes to waste.

"Just the sheer amount of food that's being wasted is enough to eradicate hunger," Lee said.

After graduating two years ago, Lee decided to help take the concept of rescuing food off campus. Together with fellow NYU alum Louisa Chen, he co-founded Rescuing Leftover Cuisine. The nonprofit picks up fresh food that would otherwise go to waste from New York City restaurants and gets it to people in need.

Seven days a week, the organization engages volunteers to pick up and deliver any amount of food, no matter how small. Lee says operating on foot makes the group highly efficient.

So far, the group has rescued 100,000 pounds of food and delivered it to homeless shelters and food kitchens. Seeing the impact he was making, Lee gave up his finance job at J.P. Morgan last year to focus on his nonprofit full time.

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I don't know how serious the food wastage problem is in the UK...perhaps not as bad as America. 

Cheers.

Sriram

[Leonard James]

It's good to see altruism alive and flourishing ... particularly good in the young in this consumer age.

[jakswan]

I don't know how serious the food wastage problem is in the UK...perhaps not as bad as America. 

If there is food waste in a country where people are going hungry its a world wide problem.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28139586

[Leonard James]

I don't know how serious the food wastage problem is in the UK...perhaps not as bad as America. 

If there is food waste in a country where people are going hungry its a world wide problem.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-28139586

Well yes, it is, but this is quickly perishable food, so any help can only be applied locally.

[Shaker]

It's only a few weeks since I posted a link to an article relating how French supermarkets are required by law to pass on unsold food to the needy. Some supermarkets here do so, but it's a voluntary, goodwill gesture and not a case of legal compulsion, which is why so few do it.

[OH MY WORLD!]

What point are you trying to make Sriram? Considering the fact that the United Nations Development Program has stated that India wastes 40% of it's food every year. All the Wheat Australia produces is the same amount INDIA wastes per year. Perhaps deal with your waste before pointing your finger at my friends to the south.

[BashfulAnthony]

It's food wastage by the obese, who eat far more than they need.   According to BBC News this lunch, there are more obese people on Earth than there are starving people.

[Shaker]

That doesn't actually follow. This is about the wastage of food full stop, not obesity - I once heard somewhere of somebody who said that if food waste bothers you, never, ever, ever, ever, ever get a job in catering or that involves cooking for the general public in any way, because the amount of wasted food defies belief.

[Nearly Sane]

Indeed,  I would have thought the obese might be less likely to waste food.

[BashfulAnthony]

That doesn't actually follow. This is about the wastage of food full stop, not obesity - I once heard somewhere of somebody who said that if food waste bothers you, never, ever, ever, ever, ever get a job in catering or that involves cooking for the general public in any way, because the amount of wasted food defies belief.

But the obese eat more than their share, and, obviously more than they need, so it is, in effect, wasted.  If they didn't, and didn't in the future, it might still be possible to somehow devise the means to channel that food to the needy

[Nearly Sane]

Surely it is simpler to make sure that we use the tons and tons of food that is thrown away while still edible rather than start trying to nick chips from people you think are fat?

[BashfulAnthony]

Surely it is simpler to make sure that we use the tons and tons of food that is thrown away while still edible rather than start trying to nick chips from people you think are fat?

We ought to do something about that wastage, which is a disgrace, I agree.  But why not also do more to encourage people not to eat so much, which is also wasting food?

[Nearly Sane]

Surely it is simpler to make sure that we use the tons and tons of food that is thrown away while still edible rather than start trying to nick chips from people you think are fat?

We ought to do something about that wastage, which is a disgrace, I agree.  But why not also do more to encourage people not to eat so much, which is also wasting food?

They are not an either/or, but I don't think arguing to people that they are wasting food by eating it is either a logical or a feasible argument.

[Shaker]

If it's being eaten it's not being wasted.

There's already more than enough food in the world to feed everyone - the problem isn't one of scarcity but imbalance, of getting the food to where it needs to be. Taking that final pasty off Eamonn Holmes isn't going to help anybody.

[BashfulAnthony]

Surely it is simpler to make sure that we use the tons and tons of food that is thrown away while still edible rather than start trying to nick chips from people you think are fat?

We ought to do something about that wastage, which is a disgrace, I agree.  But why not also do more to encourage people not to eat so much, which is also wasting food?

They are not an either/or, but I don't think arguing to people that they are wasting food by eating it is either a logical or a feasible argument.

Obese people need to understand that the food they eat, which they don't need, because they have already had enough, and are doing themselves no good anyway, is simply being wasted on them.

[Shaker]

I don't get this at all. It's not being wasted. You're making a moral judgement on people you regard as overweight but without saying how this food is being wasted. It isn't. Food that goes from supermarket to fridge to dustbin without passing through an alimentary canal in the interim is food that's wasted - bad enough for fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta etc., downright inuquitous if it's meat or fish. The concept of waste only has traction because the food that ends up in the bin could have been eaten by somebody who would have been grateful for it - if we had legislation in place such as exists in France there would be no need to have food banks in one of the richest nations on the planet.

[BashfulAnthony]

I don't get this at all. It's not being wasted. You're making a moral judgement on people you regard as overweight but without saying how this food is being wasted. It isn't. Food that goes from supermarket to fridge to dustbin without passing through an alimentary canal in the interim is food that's wasted - bad enough for fruit, vegetables, rice, pasta etc., downright inuquitous if it's meat or fish. The concept of waste only has traction because the food that ends up in the bin could have been eaten by somebody who would have been grateful for it - if we had legislation in place such as exists in France there would be no need to have food banks in one of the richest nations on the planet.

The extra food they eat is wasted by the obese because they need never have bought it in the first place:  they not only did not need it, but it was not doing them any good anyway.  Leave it to be used by somebody who doesn't abuse the privilege of having all they want available, and more.

[Shaker]

The extra food they eat is wasted by the obese because they need never have bought it in the first place:  they not only did not need it, but it was not doing them any good anyway.

I would sooner treat competent consenting adults as the judge of what's good for them. You're a whisker away from telling people what food they can and can't buy.

Leave it to be used by somebody who doesn't abuse the privilege of having all they want available, and more.

Do you seriously believe that if Robbie Coltrane, while pushing his trolley around Morrisons, picks up a 12-pack of crisps and then thinks "No, better not" and puts it back, it'll go to the hungry?

[BashfulAnthony]

The extra food they eat is wasted by the obese because they need never have bought it in the first place:  they not only did not need it, but it was not doing them any good anyway.

I would sooner treat competent consenting adults as the judge of what's good for them. You're a whisker away from telling people what food they can and can't buy.

Leave it to be used by somebody who doesn't abuse the privilege of having all they want available, and more.

Do you seriously believe that if Robbie Coltrane, while pushing his trolley around Morrisons, picks up a 12-pack of crisps and then thinks "No, better not" and puts it back, it'll go to the hungry?

I'm not telling people what's good for them; but if they are too selfish in their eating habits, then it needs pointing out.  There are Government incentives on what is good and not good: sugar, salt fatty foods, etc.  Do you think that is telling people what they can and can't eat?  Or is it giving them advice on what is healthy, when clearly, the obese need some guidance.

If Robbie Coltrane does pick up a 12- pack of crisps, then clearly he doesn't put it back.  Perhaps he needs a little advice, or persuading.  Obesity, and the mis-use of our food supplies, is a ticking time-bomb.

[Shaker]

I'm not telling people what's good for them; but if they are too selfish in their eating habits, then it needs pointing out.  There are Government incentives on what is good and not good: sugar, salt fatty foods, etc.  Do you think that is telling people what they can and can't eat?  Or is it giving them advice on what is healthy, when clearly, the obese need some guidance.

It's nannyism of the kind that now has to put drinkaware.co.uk even on a TV advert for a bottle of Lambrini. It's the infantilisation of adults, treating grown-ups as children who can't make their own decisions.

If Robbie Coltrane does pick up a 12- pack of crisps, then clearly he doesn't put it back. Perhaps he needs a little advice, or persuading. Obesity, and the mis-use of our food supplies, is a ticking time-bomb.

"Persuading"? What if he's not interested in being persuaded?

[BashfulAnthony]

I'm not telling people what's good for them; but if they are too selfish in their eating habits, then it needs pointing out.  There are Government incentives on what is good and not good: sugar, salt fatty foods, etc.  Do you think that is telling people what they can and can't eat?  Or is it giving them advice on what is healthy, when clearly, the obese need some guidance.

It's nannyism of the kind that now has to put drinkaware.co.uk even on a TV advert for a bottle of Lambrini. It's the infantilisation of adults, treating grown-ups as children who can't make their own decisions.

If Robbie Coltrane does pick up a 12- pack of crisps, then clearly he doesn't put it back. Perhaps he needs a little advice, or persuading. Obesity, and the mis-use of our food supplies, is a ticking time-bomb.

"Persuading"? What if he's not interested in being persuaded?

What on earth is wrong with trying to persuade people to eat healthily to increase their chances of a healthier and longer life?  These same arguments you propound about so-called nannyism were used over the issues of seat belts and crash helmets .  Once it was realised they were life-saving decisions, people accepted them.  Obesity is a life-threatening condition, and needs to be addressed.  If the Government ignored this growing problem (on pun intended), people would bleat that they ought to do something.

Obesity is serious. Research has shown that obese people are at higher risk for developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, and sleeping and breathing problems among other conditions. Some of these are the leading causes of death.  Shouldn't we be trying to effect change in how much we eat, then?

[Shaker]

What on earth is wrong with trying to persuade people to eat healthily to increase their chances of a healthier and longer life?  These same arguments you propound about so-called nannyism were used over the issues of seat belts and crash helmets .  Once it was realised they were life-saving decisions, people accepted them.  Obesity is a life-threatening condition, and needs to be addressed.  If the Government ignored this growing problem (on pun intended), people would bleat that they ought to do something.

Obesity is serious. Research has shown that obese people are at higher risk for developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, and sleeping and breathing problems among other conditions. Some of these are the leading causes of death.  Shouldn't we be trying to effect change in how much we eat, then?

No. Regarding your example of crash helmets and seatbelts, the classic liberal/John Stuart Milli-ian view would be that it is wrong to impose these by threat of legal penalties because the individual is sovereign and owns himself, which grants him the right to endanger his own life should he so wish. It may not be wise, and other people may find it foolish and may try to change his mind, but they have no power to compel him since potentially endangering one's own life is a self-directed action as opposed to an other-directed action. This is why, for instance, the state has a right to impose legal penalties on drink driving (drink half a bottle of vodka and get behind the wheel and you can plough into a full bus queue of people, killing all of them) but on the classic liberal view can't demand that you buckle up while doing it.

A further point is that these things are hopelessly inconsistent; people are expected by law to wear a seatbelt or a crash helmet, yet fairly widespread and at times incredibly dangerous activities - playing rugby; riding horses; sky diving; motor racing; boxing - are freely permitted.

Of course most of these things are big business and make people a very great deal of money indeed, so that explains that. It also explains why alcohol and tobacco are legal and cannabis isn't.

[BashfulAnthony]

What on earth is wrong with trying to persuade people to eat healthily to increase their chances of a healthier and longer life?  These same arguments you propound about so-called nannyism were used over the issues of seat belts and crash helmets .  Once it was realised they were life-saving decisions, people accepted them.  Obesity is a life-threatening condition, and needs to be addressed.  If the Government ignored this growing problem (on pun intended), people would bleat that they ought to do something.

Obesity is serious. Research has shown that obese people are at higher risk for developing heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, and sleeping and breathing problems among other conditions. Some of these are the leading causes of death.  Shouldn't we be trying to effect change in how much we eat, then?

No. Regarding your example of crash helmets and seatbelts, the classic liberal/John Stuart Milli-ian view would be that it is wrong to impose these by threat of legal penalties because the individual is sovereign and owns himself, which grants him the right to endanger his own life should he so wish. It may not be wise, and other people may find it foolish and may try to change his mind, but they have no power to compel him since potentially endangering one's own life is a self-directed action as opposed to an other-directed action. This is why, for instance, the state has a right to impose legal penalties on drink driving (drink half a bottle of vodka and get behind the wheel and you can plough into a full bus queue of people, killing all of them) but on the classic liberal view can't demand that you buckle up while doing it.

A further point is that these things are hopelessly inconsistent; people are expected by law to wear a seatbelt or a crash helmet, yet fairly widespread and at times incredibly dangerous activities - playing rugby; riding horses; sky diving; motor racing; boxing - are freely permitted.

Of course most of these things are big business and make people a very great deal of money indeed, so that explains that. It also explains why alcohol and tobacco are legal and cannabis isn't

You are widening the discussion too broadly.  We are discussing obesity, and I am saying that it is a serious, very serious, problem that only the resources of a Government can adequately address.  I am not, and would not, suggest enforcement in any way by the use of laws:  I am talking of persuasion.  Surely you agree that people ought to have it pointed out to them that too much eating, and too much eating of the wrong things, is harmful in the extreme?

[Shaker]

People already have that sort of information in abundance though. You can't escape it. It's on every packet and tin, on every bottle of the weakest pseudo plonk in existence, it's in the papers every other day and just to really ram it down your throat (no pun intended) it also features regularly in TV adverts. If the thesis that we're suffering an obesity crisis and liver damage epidemic is true, people clearly aren't taking any notice. Since you can't miss the finger wagging, people have to be ignoring it.

Perhaps people are just sick and tired of being lectured.

P.S. We weren't actually discussing obesity but food wastage - you introduced obesity which still has nothing to do with the OP as far as I can see.

[BashfulAnthony]

People already have that sort of information in abundance though. You can't escape it. It's on every packet and tin, on every bottle of the weakest pseudo plonk in existence, it's in the papers every other day and just to really ram it down your throat (no pun intended) it also features regularly in TV adverts. If the thesis that we're suffering an obesity crisis and liver damage epidemic is true, people clearly aren't taking any notice. Since you can't miss the finger wagging, people have to be ignoring it.

Perhaps people are just sick and tired of being lectured.

P.S. We weren't actually discussing obesity but food wastage - you introduced obesity which still has nothing to do with the OP as far as I can see.

How many people read what's on the tin/package?  You can hardly see it for a start, and even less understand it.  Sometimes it is necessary to go on and on about a thing, till the penny drops.  For many, despite the deathly effect it has, smoking as a dangerous habit, has not hit home.

I realise the OP is about wastage, but my point is, as I have said, obese people are wasting food, by eating what they do not need, quite apart from the health considerations.