Food wastage has now become a big problem in many parts of the world. The emergence of the wealthy middle class and the availability of vast variety of food are the causes of this situation; however, solutions need to be adopted to combat the issue.
At the outset, people have become wealthier than before. This means that individuals no longer appreciate food, and tend to throw food away after eating rather than storing it in the fridge for the next meal. Fresh vegetables, meat, and fish at the supermarket are now sold at an affordable price for middle-class people, so many of them are willing to discard the food as soon as they satiate their hungry stomach. Another reason is that the food industry has been developing fast, with a variety of choices and marketing techniques it encourages food spending. Television programs are often interrupted by food advertisements that are digitally altered to trigger the craving for a wide range of delicious food. It is, therefore, not surprising why consumers do not feel the need to preserve the food that they have not eaten for later use.
Turning to possible solutions, food wastage is not an intractable problem. The simplest measure the government can do is to step up campaigns to raise public awareness with the aim of changing public attitudes to food consumption. The deleterious effects of food waste on the environment should be highlighted via posters and television programs to draw the attention of the public to the problem. Also, a heavy tax ought to be imposed on the food industry, which may cause the price of everyday food to rise and consequently deter people from taking food for granted.
In conclusion, people throw excessive food away after meals because of several reasons, this issue can be alleviated if the government takes action to mitigate the problem.