5 Food Waste Facts of Canada You Need to Know
According to the United Nations, the world produces enough food to feed the entire population easily. Yet, there are 811 million chronically malnourished people across the globe. The primary reason for this alarming number around the world is excessive food wastage. You would be astonished to know that around 2.5 billion tonnes of food is wasted worldwide each year.
In light of this fact, reducing food wastage is the only practical way to tackle world hunger.
Read on to know more some eye-opening food wastage facts and figures in Canada and worldwide.
Food waste in Canada amounts to a whopping $30 billion
Canada is amongst the biggest food-wasting countries across the globe. As per Canadian food waste statistics, 396 kgs of food is wasted annually per capita in Canada, with Canadian households being responsible for around 50% of it.
2.2 million tonnes of Canadian food wastage comes from households, and sadly, some of it is completely untouched food.
12% of Canada’s food wastage happens during the supply chain’s retail phase
Statistics show that 12% of food waste in Canada occurs during retail in the supply chain. It can happen due to inappropriate storage facilities, lack of proper inventory management, and removal of close-to-expiry-date foodstuffs. The food manufacturing process also leads to $21 billion in losses due to sheer food loss. Hotels and restaurants also contribute up to 9% of the total food wastage in Canada.
49.5 billion dollars of Canadian food wastage can be avoided
Leftover distribution statistics of Canada show that $2.41 billion of food wastage (55 million tonnes) can be avoided at the distribution level itself. Other initiatives like the zero waste initiative and certain measures can also significantly reduce food wastage by up to $49.5 billion annually.
Food wastage is harmful to the environment
Food wastage not only causes hunger problems across the globe, but also harms the environment. The food waste in Canada generates 56.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions--the primary reason for global warming and the increasing rate of climate change.
Organic food waste and packing materials also contribute to 23% of total landfill waste in the country, further complicating the existing environmental issues.
Food wastage promotes hunger
Hunger is a global problem that leads to malnutrition and diseases, and even loss of life in people. Recent world food program statistics show that about 1 in every 9 people go hungry to bed every night globally. Also, about 1.4 million Canadian children don’t have access to healthy and nutritious food.
A majority of these hunger problems can be resolved if we save even one-quarter of the food we waste daily.
About Paradise Fields
Buy fresh and organic ingredients for a healthy lifestyle only at Paradise Fields. We have everything your kitchen needs--from fruits, vegetables, and herbs--to teas, spices, seeds, nuts, spreads, and soups. We also supply our products to multiple health food stores in the Greater Toronto Area.
You can check out our website to view the full range of our products and purchase-related information. To buy our products, visit one of our fruit and vegetable stores or place your order online via our website.
If you wish to reach out to us, call at (289) 522-0202 or drop us an email at hello@paradisefields.ca.