Agency tells Swedes to 'stop throwing food away'
Published: 25 Mar 11 12:45 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/32818/20110325/
Swedes cause “completely unnecessary” damage to the environment by throwing away more than one kilo of fully edible foodstuffs per person each week, the National Food Administration (Livsmedelsverket) has revealed.
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“It’s an indefensible waste that so many edible groceries are thrown away, and it leads to completely unnecessary environmental and climate effects,” said Inger Andersson, director general of the administration.
Food production is one of the main human causes of environmental damage, with foodstuffs discarded by households, restaurants and large-scale kitchens leading to the emission of 1.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, the administration said. This equates to 2 percent of Swedish consumer society’s overall climate footprint, it added.
In an attempt to tackle the problem, the Food Administration has begun preparing an advice kit for consumers seeking to cut back on the amount of food they throw away.
Inger Andersson said consumers should plan their grocery shopping better, store perishable goods properly, and make sure to use leftovers.
“If food has been stored properly, it won’t be dangerous just because it has passed its best-before date, although the quality may have deteriorated,” said Andersson.
“People have to dare to smell and taste the food and trust their own senses.”
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
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I have to agree with you... almost :D
One custom I found here in Sweden which seems quite curious to me is the "black-and-white" attitude towards "best before" dates. Most people I know react in this way: if the best before date is still valid, it is perfectly fine; if it has expired it somehow turns to poison and can kill you?
Best before usually means that it will taste much better if consumed within that time period. But it won't kill you. If anything does kill you, the best before date normally has nothing to do with it. Meat falling within this time period can still contain butolism and other life-threatening agents which have nothing to do with expiration dates.
(It's ok, I'm kidding. I know you meant botulism...)