A new report by Second Harvest, titled The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste, underscores the staggering scale of food waste in Canada. The findings reveal that 46.5 percent of the food in Canada goes to waste, with 41.7 percent of this waste deemed avoidable. This avoidable food waste represents a loss of $58 billion – a sobering figure that highlights the economic and environmental impact of wasted food.
Led by food waste expert Dr. Martin Gooch, the report is the second comprehensive assessment in five years, and unfortunately, Canada’s food waste situation has shown little improvement. However, there is hope.
Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab recently introduced the Canadian Food Sentiment Index, which explores Canadians’ attitudes toward food waste. According to this index, 76.6 percent of Canadians report actively trying to reduce food waste compared to a year ago. Rising food prices have encouraged more consumers to be mindful of their household food inventory, a positive trend that can significantly reduce waste at the consumer level.
One of the main contributors to household food waste is the misunderstanding around best-before dates – another critical point highlighted in Second Harvest’s report. Many consumers now recognize that a best-before date does not equate to “bad after.” These dates, largely unsupported by scientific research, are designed to indicate optimal freshness rather than food safety, especially if the packaging remains unopened. Despite this, 55.4 percent of Canadians still discard food that has passed its best-before date, even when the product remains sealed.
To help address this issue, Too Good To Go has launched the “Look-Smell-Taste” initiative in partnership with food manufacturers and retailers across Canada. In the “Look-Smell-Taste” initiative, informational stickers will be placed on select food items to encourage consumers to evaluate freshness with their senses rather than relying solely on printed dates.
The method is straightforward: consumers are prompted to look for signs of spoilage and smell to assess freshness and taste to confirm edibility. When consumers scan these stickers with the app, they receive additional tips and guidance, empowering them to make informed choices about whether food is still good to eat. This sensory-based approach can foster a more intuitive understanding of food quality, reducing unnecessary waste and helping households save money. While some people may still find eating food past its best-before date off-putting, others are embracing it to save money.
Click here to see more...