Spaniards wasted 1,245.88 million kilograms of food in 2021

According to the advanced data given to Efe by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), people living in Spain wasted. 1,245.88 million kilos of food in 20218.6% less than the previous year.

MAP explained better use due to trends such as changing habits after the pandemic, with an increase in labor flexibility and a return to consumption outside the home.

Moreover, There is a tendency to perceive the value of food more. there is more social awareness as prices rise and among other factors mentioned.

“Fighting food waste also works to benefit the entire society, especially in times like today, when food becomes more expensive due to rising energy and raw material costs,” Planas told Efe.

Less consumption at home, more consumption outside

Last year with the end of prison and less restrictions Spanish residents had fewer opportunities to cook at homethus, purchasing volume contracted by 7.2%.

Duration, out-of-home consumption increased by 10.4%, driven by further work attendance and a return to leisure.

However, in 2021 there were still more than 13 million households (three out of four) wasting food, compared to 40% outside the home, according to MAPA.

The data show that On average, each person lost 28.21 pounds in 20212.72 kilos less than in 2020.

3.8% of all food and beverage purchased inside and outside the home was thrown away (compared to 3.9% in 2020), increasing to 4.2% inside the home and 0.8% outside the home. e fell.

by products

in 2021 reduced the proportion of discarded scraps (18.9% compared to 23.8% the previous year), the rest were unused products.

In what is discarded unused, frozen meats featured (16.7% wastage) and sauces (15.9%), followed by coffee, infusions and legumes with rates rising to 12% in one year.

There are a number of dishes that make up 66% of wasted recipes. those who saw their waste decrease the most, from fish-based meals (-50.4%) and meat (-42.5%) to those containing rice (-35.6%) and pasta (-35.4). %).

outside the house,Drinks are the most wasted products with 53.6% of the total. followed by food (44.1%) and snacks (2.3%).

While meals and dinners are the times most wasted away from home, they presented two distinct trends in 2021, an increase in lunches and a decrease in dinners, according to ministry data.

In addition, water, soft drinks, vegetables, beer and meat were the products that recorded the largest share of waste in line with what was observed in 2020.

a new law

The head of agriculture, at a time like now, “It is more necessary than ever to implement measures that prevent the waste of natural resources and energy resources. invested in food production.

In this way, further waste generation, the resulting environmental impact and the trivialization of the efforts of farmers, ranchers and fishermen are avoided.

Among the attempts to put an end to this problem, Planas underlined future law to prevent food loss and wasteIt is expected to enter into force in early 2023.

“In line with the government’s guidelines in terms of social justice, environmental protection and economic growth, tackling food waste is an ethical imperative that must cover the entire society, from production to final consumption,” the minister said.

The purpose of the law in question “shifting production to a more efficient, smarter system and focusing more on the circular economy” and to raise awareness for more responsible consumption.

“It’s time to implement the slogan of the ministry’s ‘Nothing is thrown here’ campaign, because there is no food that costs more than what is thrown away,” Planas added.

The government has endorsed its commitment to comply with the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which includes the goal of halving food waste per capita around the world, both in retail and in consumers, consumers, production and supply chain.