Breaking
FoodNerdy Recipes Management System
Tag

trash

Browsing
Food

Food Waste: Baked Goods for the Trash

18 million tons of food end up in the bin every year. Including 1.7 million tons of baked goods alone, as the environmental organization, WWF found out in a new study. EAT SMARTER explains what this means for the environment, what happens to the products, and how food waste can be reduced in Germany.

Every year, 18 million tons of food end up in the trash in Germany. This affects not only private households, but also production (ignoring losses in agriculture) and processing, bulk consumers, and trade – a waste of valuable resources! A total of 18 million tons: That means that we throw away about every third of food.

This is not only a major problem from an ethical point of view, but also from an ecological and economic perspective. Because raw materials, energy, and water are required, whether for the production or for the destruction of food.

Of the food thrown away, 1.7 million tons of baked goods end up in the garbage every year in Germany. There is such an enormous amount of food waste in the baked goods sector because consumers expect a large and varied range and the demand for the freshness of the products has increased.

Bakeries try to meet these expectations by offering almost their entire range until shortly before closing time. This oversupply of baked goods means that in some shops about one in five baked goods has to be thrown away.

Far-reaching consequences for the environment

“Food wastage has far-reaching consequences for our environment, because it has a negative impact on land use, eutrophication of water bodies, biodiversity, the production of pollutants, greenhouse gas emissions, etc.”, according to the environmental organization WWF, which conducted the study on food waste in the baked goods sector (1).

A harvest area of ​​398,000 hectares of arable land is required for the baked goods produced and then thrown away, which could also have been cultivated otherwise. To clarify the extent: This is an area that is roughly the size of the Balearic island of Mallorca and the state of Hamburg together.

Furthermore, the overproduction of baked goods results in 2.46 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which harm the environment unnecessarily. More conscious use of the available bread and baked goods would therefore make a significant contribution to protecting our resources and the climate and reducing food waste in Germany.

Especially against the background of this year’s drought in Germany, the wastage has to be questioned even more, since it also led to enormous harvest losses in the grain sector. Arable land can no longer be claimed on the scale previously used to “throw in the garbage as bread, pizza or pasta” (1).

At 49 percent, private households are the frontrunners in throwing away baked goods, followed by returns from bakeries (36 percent) and retailers (13 percent). These baked goods that are not eaten are then energetically utilized in biogas plants, destroyed in waste incineration plants, or ended up in the animal feed.

Critical: Excess baked goods become pet food

A large part of the baked goods that are not sold is processed into animal feed. This is particularly critical because the baked goods are usually shredded, including the packaging, in the feed manufacturers’ plants.

Most of the plastic is then removed again, but it can be assumed that this rarely happens without leaving any residue and that there is plastic, especially microplastic, in the animal feed. It is, therefore, possible that the animals have plastic particles in their bodies, which humans also ingest by eating meat.

Clear demand of the WWF

The WWF is in favor of computer systems better calculating the production and sale of baked goods so that excess production can be avoided and returns reduced. In addition, consumers should refrain from expecting a well-stocked counter before the shop closes – actions must be reconsidered and changed here.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Unnecessary Food Waste: That’s How Much Food Ends Up in The Trash Every Year

Food waste is a global problem. Far too often food ends up in the trash. A study shows that people who buy healthy food often throw away more. This wastes a lot of resources – and harms the environment.

Study shows: Fruit and vegetables in particular end up in the trash

The study examined the relationship between diet quality, consumer food waste and various sustainability measures. A look at the results shows that between 2007 and 2014 an average of 422 grams of food per person was thrown away every day.

Important resources are used to grow fruit and vegetables: in particular, irrigation water and pesticides are required more than for other foods. These resources are also wasted by throwing away fruit and vegetables – important resources that could have been used to grow other foods.

Wasted resources – simple household countermeasures

Accordingly, consumers who strive for high-quality nutrition are faced with the challenge of buying the right amount. Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables means buying more – which in turn increases the risk that some of it will go uneaten and end up in the trash instead. According to the researchers from the USA, this could be particularly difficult for consumers with little time and money and for families with children.

However, there are some approaches to counteract this. For example, you can enter exactly when which meal is prepared on a plan. This way you can plan better. In addition, consumers can find out how to store fruit and vegetables correctly so that the food does not become inedible. Another option is to freeze the food in between.

Impact: Waste also harms the environment

The “Federal Environment Agency” also warns against the careless disposal of food in the garbage: The authority emphasizes above all the drastic consequences this has for the environment: “More than 38 million tons of greenhouse gases are produced every year, a good 43,000 square kilometers of agricultural land are used, as well as 216 million cubic meters of water are consumed”, reports the “Federal Environment Agency”.

Conclusion: A healthier diet often goes hand in hand with increased food waste. Fruit and vegetables in particular often end up in the garbage. This not only wastes resources, but also harms the environment. However, with a few simple tips and a greater appreciation for food, this can be countered a little in the household.

Keep Reading
By
Lifestyle

Remove Bad Odors from Trash Cans

Over time, unpleasant odors settle in every trash can that can no longer be removed by simply washing out. In this case, a solution with soda is simply a remedy.

Clean the trash can with a solution of 1 part baking soda, 1 part dish soap, and 10 parts warm water.

Put the solution in the trash can and let it sit for at least 5 minutes. Then clean the bin with a brush and warm water and the bad smells will be a thing of the past.

Here’s a little tip: Add a few drops of scented oil to the cleaning solution to create a great scent. Depending on how intense the fragrance may be according to your personal preferences.

Keep Reading
By
Food

Mold on Food: In The Trash or on The Plate?

When food forms mold, the question often arises as to whether it is still edible or should it be thrown away. We have put together an overview for you on how to deal with various mold-infested foods.

If we discover a white, gray or greenish coating on food, we are faced with the decision: can it still be on the plate or should it be thrown away straight away?

It is important to know that there are different types of mold – some of them form toxic mycotoxins. These mold toxins are metabolic products of moulds.

Guidelines for food mold contamination

Basically:

Even if there is little mold infestation, you should never eat mold.
You should dispose of moldy food immediately or cut away moldy areas immediately and generously. Because mold spreads through touch and through the air and mold spores are often not (yet) visible when they develop. It is therefore better not to take unnecessary risks.
By the time mold becomes visible on the surface of a food item, it has often already infected the interior.
Water-rich foods should be discarded even if they are only mildly moldy. Mycotoxins spread very quickly in water-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. The same applies to foods made from fruit or vegetables rich in water, such as compote or juices.
If you are unsure, throw away the moldy food. In the worst case, mold can be harmful.
Examine adjacent fruit or vegetables. To be safe, wash it off and then rub it dry. If necessary, cut away the spot that was near the mold and eat the rest immediately. If the mold has already spread, discard any affected food.
Under no circumstances should you feed moldy food to animals. Mold is just as harmful to them as it is to humans.

Foods to throw away if mold is present

Fruit and vegetables: You should completely dispose of fruit and vegetables containing water and products made from them, such as juices or compotes, even if there is only a small amount of mold infestation. Firmer varieties such as carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, apples and bananas can usually be generously cleaned of mold and eat the rest.
Citrus fruits: The same applies to citrus fruits such as lemons, tangerines or oranges as to water-rich fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, you have to throw away the whole fruit.
Milk and dairy products: You should also throw away products such as yoghurt, quark or cream cheese if they go moldy. The same applies to milk alternatives and products made from them.
Cheese: Soft cheese, semi-hard cheese and cream cheese all belong in the organic waste if there is mold. An exception is hard cheese: if it is only superficially infested, you can remove the mold over a large area. If the inside is also affected, you better discard all the cheese. An infestation of “wild” mold should not be confused with an intentional addition of noble mold in some types of cheese.
Sausage and meat: In most cases, you should completely dispose of moldy sausage and meat products. You can only simply cut away the mold on air-dried products such as ham or salami in one piece. On the other hand, you should always throw away moldy cold cuts, even if they are dried sausages. However, there are also types of meat products, such as noble salami, in which noble mold refines the taste.
Jams and marmalade: Low-sugar varieties or sugar substitutes such as sweeteners should be discarded entirely if they become moldy. In the case of varieties with a high sugar content, it is possible to generously remove only the affected area. However, the BfR recommends throwing moldy jam or marmalade in the trash.
Bread: If you see mold on a loaf or slice of bread, you should discard the product entirely. In most cases, the mold spores have already spread inside.
Nuts: Be careful with nuts. Spoiled nuts often contain aflatoxin, a potent fungal toxin. This is mainly caused by damp storage. You should therefore be particularly careful with nuts that have to be transported over long distances and check them for spoiled nuts before eating them. It doesn’t matter whether the kernel or the shell is affected: you should throw away moldy nuts completely. If necessary, unfortunately even the whole pack.
Grain and seeds: Mold on grain has usually already developed in the field or through storage. This is where you should dispose of the whole pack. The susceptible varieties include, for example, spelled kernels, wheat bran, sesame or poppy seeds. Mold can also attack flour, for example if it is stored too warm or too humid.
Dried fruits: Moldy dried fruits also belong in the trash. But be careful: often the white coating on dried fruit is just sugar deposits. For example, fine white hairs speak for mold. Mold often shows up in dried fruit in the form of black dots inside.
Spices: As with nuts, moldy spices produce the highly toxic substance aflatoxin. Therefore, throw away affected spices completely. Mold develops, for example, when you hold the spice container over the steaming dish: heat and moisture promote mold growth.

Keep Reading
By