Food Waste Basics
What is Food Waste?
When edible food is thrown away instead of eaten
Who produces the most food waste?
Households
What is one environmental effect of food waste?
Greenhouse gas emissions
Name one province with high food waste due to population
Ontario / Quebec / British Columbia
What is one way to reduce food waste at home?
Buy only what you need / store food properly
About what percentage of food is wasted in Canada?
About 46.5%
What is one reason people waste food at home?
Overbuying / poor storage / confusion about expiry dates
How much money does food waste cost Canadian families yearly?
About $1,600
What regions are most affected because food is harder to get?
Northern regions
What program helps reduce food waste by turning it into soil?
Composting
What type of food waste could have been eaten?
Avoidable food waste
Name one stage before food reaches homes where waste happens
Farming / processing / stores
How does food waste affect food insecurity?
It makes it worse
Name one Prairie province
Alberta / Saskatchewan / Manitoba
Name one province with composting programs
Ontario / BC / Quebec
How many food items out of 100 are thrown away in Canada?
About 17
Why does food get wasted in stores?
Unsold products or strict appearance standards
What percentage of global greenhouse gases come from food waste?
About 8–10%
Where does waste happen in Prairie provinces?
Farming, processing, and transportation
What can stores do instead of throwing food away?
Donate it
What gas is produced when food rots in landfills?
Methane
Why has avoidable food waste increased recently?
People are wasting more edible food
What is one economic impact of food waste?
It costs billions of dollars each year
Why is food waste a bigger issue in northern communities?
Food is harder to access
What is one thing the government is doing to reduce food waste?
Funding solutions / encouraging donations / limiting landfill emissions