4.3 million loaves of bread go to waste every day... Turkey ranks 3rd in the 'world waste ranking'

Food waste in the world has reached a critical level in recent years, causing millions of people to face a food crisis. According to United Nations reports, approximately one-third of the food produced annually is wasted. This means that 1.3 billion tons of food go to waste worldwide.

The reasons for food waste reaching such a large scale include overproduction, logistical problems, packaging errors, and consumer habits. According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), while one segment of the world struggles with obesity, 828 million people are struggling with hunger.

WE ARE THE 3RD COUNTRY THAT WASTES THE MOST BREAD

Experts suggest providing consumer education and repurposing food to reduce food waste. Stating that everyone should take responsibility in this regard, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Hastaoğlu said, “The biggest reason we have become the 3rd country in the world that wastes the most bread is our lack of awareness. One way to reduce food waste is to shop in a planned and conscious manner. When making this list, we should buy what we need, within our budget, and only in the amount we need.”

Stating that 1/3 of the food produced in the world is wasted according to the announced data, Hastaoğlu said the following:

“Food is the most important bond we have established with the planet. Food waste means that food that is at a consumable level either becomes inedible or reaches a stage where people can no longer consume it due to the expiration date passing. One-third of the food produced in the world is wasted. This means it is wasted without being consumed. It is among the elements that are the responsibility of everyone from harvest to the final consumer, and which can affect everyone in this process—not just the food producer, but also the environment, nature, and future generations.

'4.3 MILLION LOAVES OF BREAD ARE WASTED EVERY DAY'

According to the report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2023, 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually. In our country, 4.3 million loaves of bread are wasted every day. Looking at it in general, the fact that 1/3 of the food produced in the world is wasted is a very large and serious rate. It is predicted that our food needs will increase by 60 percent by 2050 due to population growth. If we could prevent even half of the food waste, we could prevent the food wars that are likely to occur in the 2040-2050 period.”

Stating that easy access to food causes food waste, Hastaoğlu said, “In the past, we could not easily access such a variety and quantity of food. Conscious consumption is at the very beginning of the way to reduce waste. While we are a society that kisses bread and puts it on our heads when it falls to the ground, the biggest reason we have become the 3rd country in the world that wastes the most bread is our lack of awareness. The most important factor in preventing food waste is for family members to know that food can be reused. For example, if we made rice today and there is some left over, we can turn it into 'kadınbudu' meatballs tomorrow,” he said.

'THE CAUSE OF HUNGER IS THE INADEQUATE AND UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD'

Stating that the cause of hunger today is not inadequate food production, but the inadequate and unequal distribution of food, Hastaoğlu continued his words as follows:

“While one part of the world struggles with obesity, another part struggles with hunger. One way to reduce food waste is to shop in a planned and conscious manner. It is especially recommended during the month of Ramadan. It is important not to shop while hungry because we start to want foods we don't need, we buy them, and we may not consume them after we are full. We should make a list when we go shopping. When making this list, we should buy what we need, within our budget, and only in the amount we need.”