Maan Alhmidi | Nov. 16, 2018

One third of Canadians believe that the main cause of household food loss and waste is “buying too much food,” according to a new study released by the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity.

The report showed that 69 per cent of participants considered themselves responsible for reducing food waste, while 39 per cent of them agree that they are “personally concerned about the amount of food loss and waste.”

“My son often takes a bite of his sandwich before throwing it in the garbage,” said Georgeena Absi, an Ottawa mother of three. “We are responsible, for sure. I spend a lot of money on groceries, yet we still order fast food because there is no time to cook.”

According to the National Zero Waste Council, consumers account for nearly half of all food waste in Canada, processors account for 20 per cent, retail stores for 10 per cent, farms for 10 per cent and restaurants and hotels account for only 9 per cent.

“I fill out my shopping cart every time I shop not because I need the food but because it looks good and fresh,” Mary Ato laughed. “When you cook for a big family, you never know the right amount to cook. That’s why my leftovers end up in the garbage.”

Half-eaten sandwiches and leftover spaghetti bolognese don’t always turn into food for animals; wasted food means higher garbage costs and growing greenhouse emissions. They can have significant environmental, economic and social consequences too.

All that waste costs the Canadian economy up to $100 billion annually.”

The research from the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity shows that half of Canadians are looking to government to cut food waste. “There is definitely an appetite for government to play a role,” said Ashley Bruner, research manager at the centre, in an email.

More than anything, she said, people are looking for tips to help reduce food waste and to learn how cutting waste can save them money.

The 2018 web-based survey was completed from July 13-19 by 1,509 respondents who reflect the general Canadian consumer population aged 18 or older. This is the first year the centre has conducted the survey. “In the future, we plan to continue to track these questions in order to measure progress and change.” Bruner said.

For tips on cutting out food waste, consumers can visit the Canadian Centre for Food Integrity’s website, Best Food Facts.