This challenge can be prevented when the right measures are adopted by companies in other to address this issue.
Whenever foods are reaching their date of expiration, the grocery store will have no choice other than to throw them away. This is done to protect customers against expired food and hence save them from various health challenges.
Some of these stores go to the extent of embarking on street food donations which can be dangerous to the lives of citizens who accept these foods. Though they see this as kindness but on the other way round, it’s not.
This they do for themselves and not the public which makes the environment suffer.
What are the roles grocery stores play in food waste?
They play a crucial role beyond your imagination. Grocery stores influence the environment and help fuel global warming.
Food waste from grocery stores accounts for one-third of landfill garbage, which brings about high carbon emissions. And this amounts to a similar intensity as compared to that from your machines and vehicles.
Unfortunately, retailers do not record their waste, and this makes it hard to know the accurate numbers and compile useful data for tackling the problem.
Additionally, grocery stores contribute to waste by storing too much product, particularly if they have a small number of outlets that spreads throughout the surrounding.
Consequences of food waste
When food expires, it spoils. And when it gets spoilt, it constitutes food waste, thus being thrown away. Below are the consequences of food waste.
1. Water wastage
Water is important for life. It is also beyond doubt very useful in food production. But when these foods are thrown away, a million liters of water that was used in the production of such food is also thrown away.
Remember, certain fruits and vegetables contain water which can be wasted when they expire or spoil.
- Methane is released
When these foods are thrown away, it gradually goes to landfills and this can cause a lot of damage to the environment. Methane gas is released when these foods start to decompose.
Methane is one of the greenhouse gases that affect the temperature and the climate of the earth hence, causing global warming. In other words, a decrease in food wastage decreases methane release to the environment.
- Land is wasted
Remember, these spoiled foods are thrown away on the land and this causes land degradation.
This land will no longer be fit for agricultural production and livestock production because the land will lose its nutrients. Plants will not adequately grow on such land due to poor nutrients.
- Oil is wasted
The machinery used for harvesting, transporting, and storing these foods is powered by oil. When these foods are thrown away, the oil used by these machines is wasted.
Ways to reduce food waste by grocery stores
It’s therefore important that grocery stores take the following measures so that there will be a decrease in food wastage.
~ The first measure they should take is by buying what they need in the store.
~ They should adopt a perfect meal plan.
~ Foods should be bought in bulk and not in boxes.
~ The purchase of vegetables and fruits should be from the farmers’ market directly. This will prevent early spoilage.
~ Staff should be trained on food waste.
~ By encouraging the donation of excess food in the store.
Conclusion
The rate of foods thrown away by grocery stores should be reduced because it causes food waste. And food waste can promote environmental pollution, and global warming through the release of methane gas, and land degradation, hence making the land unfit for agricultural and livestock production.
These supermarkets must adopt the necessary measures to prevent foods from expiring at the shop. When this is done, throwing away foods will be reduced.
What is done to food waste in grocery stores?
Some of these foods are donated to food banks to give them to the poor and homeless to aid life. While others are sold out as cooked food to customers when they’re close to expiring.
Do grocery stores donate to food banks?
Absolutely! Grocery stores donate to food banks. It will surprise you that this institution and even the homeless accept food donations that have expired. But these food items must not be perishable. They should be non-perishable before they can be accepted.
Which grocery stores donate food consistently?
Out of the numerous grocery stores found in the United States, only a few regularly make food donations. These stores include:
• Walmart
• Kroger
• Whole foods
• Aldi
• Target
