Food Waste inglés

FOOD WASTE

Definition of Food Waste: Food waste is when we throw away or waste a lot of edible stuff during the process of making, eating, and distributing food. It happens from the farms to our kitchens, and it includes things like peels and bones that can't be used, as well as perfectly good food that gets tossed for no good reason. 

Different countries all over the world are impacted by food waste to different extents. However, it's important to remember that food waste is a problem that affects almost every country to some degree.  

• Rich countries: Countries with advanced economies and a high standard of living tend to produce more food waste. This is mainly because consumers tend to buy too much food, throw away perfectly good food because of how it looks, and serve themselves excessively large portions. Examples of strongly affected countries in this category include the United States, Canada, and countries in Western Europe. 
• Poor countries: While poor countries generally produce less food waste compared to rich nations, they still have significant challenges related to food loss. These countries often struggle with inadequate infrastructure, limited access to proper storage facilities, and inefficient supply chains. Regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and parts of Latin America are examples of areas where food waste is a pressing problem. 
• Countries with too much food: Some countries have an excess of food production due to favorable agricultural conditions, while others experience fluctuations in food supply based on the time of year. In these cases, a lot of food goes to waste because there's not enough infrastructure, transportation, and storage capabilities. Examples include India, China, and parts of South America. 
• Cities: Food waste is often more common in urban areas because there are more people living close together and a stronger emphasis on convenience. Restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and households in cities tend to produce a lot of food waste because of things like mishandling food, shorter shelf life for products, and cultural attitudes towards food consumption. 

In the end, food waste is a global issue that affects countries all over the world. While the scale and causes may be different, resolving this problem requires everyone's involvement, both on an individual level and through systemic changes, regardless of the country in question.  

Consequences of Food Waste (1 minute): The effects of food waste are really bad for the environment and for people too. Check these out: 

• Harming the Environment: When food sits in landfills and decomposes, it creates a gas called methane that makes climate change worse. And all the land, water, and energy used to grow and get rid of food is just wasted. 
• Hurting Our Wallets: Food waste costs our economies a ton of money. We waste resources making food that just gets thrown away, when that money could have been used to fight hunger and poverty and help people live better lives. 
• Not Fair: In a world where millions of people are hungry and malnourished, wasting food is a big problem. We could use that food to help everyone eat and be healthy. 

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