Almost half of SA’s food supply wasted, new study finds
A study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has found that 45% of the available food supply in South Africa is wasted.
This means some 10 million tonnes of edible food, that is earmarked for consumption every year, does not reach the human stomach.
The CSIR’s Suzan Oelefse says the results point to high levels of inefficiency in the food value chain in South Africa.
“The majority of South Africa’s food losses and waste (68%) occur in the early stages of production with 19% occurring during post-harvest handling and storage, and 49% during processing and packaging.
ALSO READ: Search for bodies underway after car plunges into Vaal Dam
“Food waste at the consumption stage is 18%, more than three times higher than previous estimates. In terms of commodity groups, cereals contribute 50% of the overall losses and waste, followed by fruit and vegetables (19%), milk (14%) and meat (9%).”
Oelefse has urged South African businesses and households to significantly reduce food losses and waste in order to address the country’s hunger problems.
