Food waste, a problem for the European Union

The National Sanitary-Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) draws attention to the dramatic dimensions of the phenomenon on the International Food Waste Awareness Day. In the European Union, each person throws away over 70 kilograms of food annually - which means money lost, resources consumed unnecessarily and a huge impact on the environment.

• Global issue with local effects

The marking of this day comes at the initiative of the United Nations, as an alarm signal regarding the paradox of the modern world: millions of people suffer from hunger, while tons of food end up in the trash every day. "In the European Union, data show that each person throws away, on average, over 70 kilograms of food per year. This means money lost, resources consumed unnecessarily and a huge impact on the environment," reports ANSVSA.

• The invisible costs of waste

When food is thrown away, not only the product itself is lost. The resources invested in production also disappear with it: water, energy, agricultural land, fuel, time and human labor. Food waste takes various forms: food forgotten in the refrigerator until it expires, portions that are too large, products rejected because they do not have the "perfect” shape or leftovers thrown away without being reused.

• Simple tips for reducing losses

ANSVSA recommends a few everyday gestures that can make a difference: Plan meals and buy only what you need. A shopping list is the first step towards responsible consumption; Check labels. "Best before” does not mean that the product becomes dangerous after that date; Store food correctly. The refrigerator should not exceed 4°C; Cook appropriate portions. Know the real needs of the family; Reuse intelligently. A steak from yesterday can become another dish, old vegetables a soup, and dry bread croutons.

• "Let's respect food. Let's not waste it.”

Specialists emphasize that change starts from small gestures, repeated daily. "Too often we take food for granted. But it's not like that. Behind every food is a complex chain of production and natural resources that are not infinite. September 29 is about responsibility, about better choices and about respect for food,” ANSVSA transmits. The institution's message is clear: saving the planet starts in each of our refrigerators.