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1. The FAO definition of food waste
FAO considers food wastage to be the loss of food through spoilage or waste. The term "wastage" includes both "food loss" and "food waste" . The definition is mainly designed according to the different stages of the food chain.
"Food loss" refers to the loss of quantity or quality of food as a result of the decisions and actions of food suppliers (excluding retailers, food service providers and consumers) in the supply chain. Food losses occur mainly in the early stages of the supply chain and are caused by inefficiencies in food supply chain production, such as poor food production infrastructure and logistics, low levels of technology, and inadequate skills, knowledge and management capacity of supply chain participants. In addition, natural disasters also play a role, which in practice manifests itself as any food that is discarded, incinerated or otherwise disposed of along the food supply chain from harvest, slaughter, capture up to and beyond the retail chain (excluding the retail chain) and is not re-engaged in any other productive use.
Waste later in the supply chain is referred to as 'food waste' and refers to the loss of quantity or quality of food due to the decisions and actions of retailers, food service providers and consumers. Such waste is usually due to food spoilage or other causes such as excess market supply or individual shopping and eating habits.
2.The EU definition of food waste
Article 2 of EU Regulation 178/2002 defines "food" clearly. Food means processed, partially processed or unprocessed substances or products that are expected or reasonably anticipated to be ingested by humans. In addition, food does not include feed and live animals, unless they are intended to be placed on the market for human consumption, nor does it include pre-harvest food.
It also does not include pre-harvest plants. "Food waste" is defined in the Waste Framework Directive (4)(a). （Food waste means any food that is discarded within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002". Regulation 178/Regulation 2002 also makes it clear that beverages also fall within the scope of food and that water intentionally added during the manufacture and processing of food is also food. However, water used in the production of food for other reasons, such as washing and cooling, and transferred with food waste, is not considered food waste.
Although food waste is clearly defined by the FAO and the European Union, the scope of food loss and food waste is extremely broad based on a variety of factors, such as the failure to sell food that would otherwise be consumed based on market access criteria, or the differences in food culture between countries that lead to food waste.
There are different standards of food waste. Therefore, there is a need to further explain food waste in more detail for each link of the supply chain in order to establish a scientifically sound food waste and loss assessment system.
My Summary:
In my project, I focus more on the food waste part, which is more relevant to the lives of ordinary people.
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