Top 10 countries with the highest level of food waste

Food is one of the basic needs of living beings. While some are starving in parts of the world, especially in many African countries where they face adverse climate change leading to famine, floods and drought, others are depleting this basic need.

Food waste is common in all circles, homes, farms and industrial plants commonly face this problem. Perishable foods are usually thrown away if they remain unused for only a few days. This is caused by poor storage facilities among other factors. The prevalence of food waste varies across countries. It is based on the availability of food and storage mechanisms in the places where it is used. Here is a list of the 10 countries with the highest levels of food waste in 2022 “Where 780 million people are hungry.

10 Norway

According to national statistics, more than 620 kilograms of food per person is thrown away in Norway. And this is despite the fact that the country mainly imports food from other countries. Only 3% of the country's land is cultivated, and this is not enough to feed the population.

Despite this, baked food and rotten fruits and vegetables are common in most trash bins in the country. This amounts to a total of 335,000 tons of food wasted in the country. Households and eateries, along with offices and recreational parks, are known to be the largest sources of this waste. Fresh produce and fruit merchants with poor storage facilities also contribute to losses.

9. Canada

Canada ranks ninth in terms of food waste. It is estimated that each person in the country wastes an average of 640 kg of food. This means that the country produces 17.5 million tons of food waste. Making up a significant percentage of waste in the country, food waste is also considered a threat to the country's environment. Toronto, one of the largest cities in the country, is considered the area most affected by food waste. Home kitchens are listed as the top contributors to these losses, followed by hotels and other eateries and vendors on the list.

8 Denmark

In Denmark, the consumption of packaged and unpackaged foods has a long tradition. This happens along with overspending of the same. This factor is facilitated by the country's high food imports, which account for only 2% of its own food, with the rest coming from imports. Statistics show that every inhabitant of Denmark throws away an average of 660 kg of food.

These losses amount to more than 700,000 tons, increasing the government's waste management burden. Households and food service establishments are known to be the largest sources of losses in the country. To curb the situation, the government and environmental groups are currently pursuing the Stop Waste Movement, a campaign aimed at reducing food waste that is bearing fruit.

7 Australia

Australia, with its high population, is also suffering from huge food losses. This puts it in seventh place among the countries with the most food waste. Both packaged and fresh produce find a place in the wastebaskets of both homes and hotels. The situation is thought to be exacerbated by the high concentration of young people who like to throw away leftovers and store packaged foods for long periods beyond their expiration date. The country's widespread practice of traders and consumers rejecting products before they reach the market only exacerbates the situation. The situation is so serious that the government is spending about $8 million to combat food waste.

6. USA

The United States is the most populous country in the world. The country with a high population is also one of the largest food producers and importers in the world. Along with this, it is known that America is among the countries where fast food is popular among the general population.

From farms to food service outlets, the country is experiencing multiple food losses. It is estimated that nearly half of the food produced in the country is wasted. This means that each person in the country is wasting approximately 760 kg of food, which is $1,600. Waste is associated with the production of harmful gases that contribute to global warming, and also pose a risk to the health of residents.

5 Finland

In fifth place among the countries throwing away a large amount of food is Finland. It is estimated that each person in the country wastes an average of 550 kg of food. This includes both packaged foods and fresh foods. Restaurants, hotels and cafes are considered the largest sources of waste in the country. Houses and other household establishments follow in the list of industrial waste, and merchants follow in the ranking.

4. Singapore

Singapore is an island state. Most of its food comes from imports. However, large investments in the import of this precious staple product end up being a waste. According to statistics. It is estimated that 13% of all food purchased in the country is thrown away. Due to the high level of food waste, the government and other agencies have launched measures to manage the situation, including through the adoption of recycling measures. However, this allows only 13% of the products to be recycled and the rest to be thrown away. Despite this, studies show that the amount of food waste in the country continues to grow every year.

3. Malaysia

Located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia is one of the countries that rely on agriculture to support their economy. Despite this, there is a high level of food waste in the country. Statistics show that each citizen throws away an average of 540 to 560 kg of food.

Fruits and vegetables top the list of foods commonly thrown in the trash, along with a variety of packaged and baked foods. With the situation aggravated and the population growing, the authorities are seeking to invest heavily in order to curb the situation. This is a measure aimed at ensuring food security while reducing the toxins that affect the environment from food waste.

2. Germany

Germany is one of the countries with the highest population in the world. At the same time, the level of food waste is equally high. It is estimated that the average German wastes more than 80 kg of food every year. Residential kitchens are the biggest waste generators along with commercial eateries. Fresh food and packaged food retailers also contribute to waste due to poor storage conditions and outdated stocks of packaged foods. Recently, there have been movements seeking to establish a tradition of food preservation through informational websites and other media.

1. United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is one of the leading countries producing food for domestic consumption. Its products account for more than 60%, and the rest is imported. Of the total amount of food in the country, waste is generated annually in excess of 6.7 million tons, which amounts to $10.2 billion per year. To limit losses, the country has put in place measures that include consumer education campaigns to reduce food waste, such as "love food, hate waste", which has reduced waste by 137,000 tonnes to date.

Food loss is a global problem and should be treated as such, especially when there are famines in some parts of the world. Measures are needed to reduce losses, and this will not only save countries millions, but also improve environmental management. The top XNUMX countries with the highest levels of food waste are developed countries and therefore have room to take action to curb the situation.