Food waste: causes and economic losses estimation at household level in Pakistan

Abstract Food waste is one of the major sustainability issues that need to be addressed due to its huge negative impacts on economy, environment and food security. To develop a food waste reduction policies on regional and global level, it is mandatory to have a clear understanding of the various factors that prompting food waste at household level and the extent of the economic losses incurred by food waste. Reducing food waste can decrease household expenditure on food, freeing resources for health, education and well-being. The current study was aimed to (i) examine the food waste behavior of the respondents and to (ii) determine the level of monetary losses from food waste. To address these objectives a questionnaire survey and sample of food waste generated during 24h were collected from fifty one households in tehsil Kahror Pakka, District Lodhran, Punjab, Pakistan. The survey, focus was on levels of food waste and respondents’ knowledge and behaviors about food waste. Economic estimation of food waste was also done. In the survey, respondents from both high and low income households revealed that their fruit and vegetables (31%; 32%) and peel and scrap (53%; 48%) losses were higher while egg losses (4%; 4%) were lower. Want to eat fresh food and have no time to save food were the reasons for food waste. Monetary losses from food waste (Rs. 3677.01 per capita per annum) were higher in high income households.