Scores of families around the world complain about high prices of commodities and products due to geopolitical, logistical and supply chain challenges that have contributed to inflationary trends. In this content, reducing food waste and saving money assume significance amid the ongoing economic difficulties.
Given that Muslim families are now well into the blessed month of Ramadhan, they must be careful not to indulge in wasteful expenditure or extravagance that will result in surplus foodstuff ending up in the trash bin.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicates that the average person in the Arab region wastes about 250 kilogrammes of food annually, and that such waste increases in the holy month of Ramadhan to reach 350 kilogrammes. This happens when some people are used to seeing multiple dishes at the Ramadhan table, at a time when some families suffer from a lack of food due to poverty. In this holy month, we see the terrible amount of food waste that occurs among some families, at a time when food industry companies are preparing to carry out marketing campaigns to promote their products in various ways to encourage those who are fasting to purchase their merchandise.
In the Gulf region, some socially responsible companies, in cooperation with civil societies, continue their efforts to educate people and caution them against food waste. This awareness is conducted through audiovisual messages, media campaigns, plays and storytelling, with the underlying message that food conservation is a blessing.
Everyone agrees that wasting food in this great month and during the year happens due to wrong behavior, which is not consistent with the tolerant Islamic teachings that urge the necessity of rationalization and eschew extravagance and waste in eating and drinking, so that it does not lead to food waste. Often, surplus foodstuff is thrown in the garbage without being touched or eaten. Conserving food means conserving the environment as well.
According to global reports, 8%-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions result from food waste, which contributes to global warming that the world suffers from.
From this standpoint, those concerned must continue to carry out awareness campaigns through the various media and civil society organisations, and work to instill a culture of that eschews extravagance, especially among young people and future generations.
Balance in the process of eating and drinking and not wasting food will all improve food availability, access to food security and reduce pressure on natural resources, most of which are only available in foreign countries, according to FAO data. The region relies mainly on imports for more than 50% of its nutritional needs in the form of grains, meat, fish, vegetables and fruits.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
