Saturday, 5 December 2009

How much food do you waste? Journalism vs. Americanism

With all due respect to my American friends, it appears that Canadian broadcasters, writers, and journalists are leaving aside research, and reliable sources to promote: a bleeding heart cause, their book, or themselves.

This morning Jian Ghomeshi, host of CBC's Q, interviewed Sasha Chapman, a Toronto food writer, who was fear mongering around Canadians who waste food.Yes, we waste food. But let's try to use Canadian sources. In developing countries they waste up to 50% of their food. In Canada, a Toronto Star article says, we waste quite a bit, but they rely on UK data! I don't mind facing reality, but I want it to be MY reality!

Now her data, bless her for actually finding some research, came from an American piece of research. And her comments and theories were shocking.
  • Firstly, she said that Americans waste 14 % of their groceries, and "I'm sure the research would be the same for Canada." --not... American research does not apply in Canada in the areas of Education, Health Care, why would we be certain it would apply in this area?
  • We waste 1400 calories a day. --Not in any homes in which I have entered. As a teacher, I saw many kids using plastic containers, and bringing leftover dinner for lunch. The Society of St. Andrew writes...in "In many developing countries, post-harvest losses of food grains can reach as high as 50%." 
  • We're all too wealthy. --tell that to those on the streets, in Women's Shelters, or on Employment Insurance.
Yes, we do waste food, especially restaurants and grocery stores. Sometimes it is in the name of food safety. Many businesses are sending their surplus food to food banks, and Women's Shelters.
Most cities, and many small towns and regional municipalities have instituted green bins, following consumers who have been composting for years.

Also, we must buy the goods in order for the farmers to have sustainability.

Methinks the woman needs to do some more research...
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Food Waste in America A 2008 report on the relationship between food waste and water waste indicated that less developed countries experience significant food losses and spoilage

Discovery Channel :: News :: Food Waste Epidemic in America A typical American family tosses away 14 percent of their groceries, helping to account for the $75 billion of food wasted annually in the United States.

How we waste food - thestar.com 25 May 2008 ... Food waste is taking on growing significance as food prices skyrocket. .... "Well over 30 per cent of fruits and vegetables in North America.

4 comments:

Bill S. said...

Wow - I love your header. It is one beautiful picture.

SandyCarlson said...

Sure would be great if the media would put away the broad brush. We have a lot to learn from Canada.

Grandma K said...

I found your post very interesting. I often feel I waste food - I tend to over buy at times and other times, we just have a change in plans and the fresh vegetables spoil. What I really found interesting was the reference to the developing countries and their waste. (By the way, I am from Texas)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Very interesting post Jenn. I agree that there is ia lot of fear-mongering out there (South of your border as well) -- it sometimes seems like "they" are just trying to scare us to death about (whatever the current topic) and I keep wondering why.
That being said, there IS a lot of food waste. We used to volunteer for an organization in Eugene (Oregon) called Food Rescue Express that actually goes out to restaurants and dorm kitchens and collects leftovers (not off of plates -- just from the kitchens) to be repackaged by volunteers and then taken to shelters and other places for distribution. I have never seen this idea any where else and it seems like such a good one.
I personally have to think all the time about not overcooking for two people. Even though my "kids" are in their 40s/50s it is still hard to only cook small amounts. But we work on it.