What are the implications of food waste? Who is responsible for controlling food waste?

[Name of the Institute]

Abstract

Around 6.7 million of tones equivalent to £14.5 billion pounds food being wasted across all UK households each year. This constitute 20% of the all the domestic food that is being produced each year across United Kingdom. The purpose of this research is therefore to analyze the possible implications for the food waste and who is responsible for controlling food waste. The research used conceptual framework of Defra (2005) based on four themes engaging, enabling, encouraging and exemplifying households' food waste practices in which they discard their food that could be avoidable to a great portion. The research using the mix methodology analyzed the previous research findings of WRAP (2008) and quantitative survey based on focus group of 40 households have been conducted to identify the possible implications through which food waste could be prevented.

Contents

ABSTRACTII

INTRODUCTION1

Research Background1

Conceptual/Analytical Framework of Research2

Research Aims and Objectives3

Research Questions3

DISCUSSION OF INFORMATION GATHERING STRATEGY5

Methodology5

Search Strategies6

Information Sources7

Appraisal of Information Sources7

REVIEW, DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION8

Review of Literature and Available Studies8

Question One - Behaviours and Personal Lifestyles of UK households and Food Waste8

Question Two - Influence Local Authorities Preventive and Promotional Efforts9

Question Three- Implications of and People Responsible for Controlling Food Waste9

Case Study WRAP (2008) - The Food We Waste10

Discussion of the Findings12

Demographics12

Consumption Patterns13

Awareness Regarding Food Waste Collection and Disposal Services18

Evaluation of the Findings20

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION22

REFERENCES24

APPENDIX26

QUESTIONNAIRE26

List of Figures

Figure 1: Average Monthly Spending on Food13

Figure 2: Percentage of People Plan before Shopping14

Figure 3: Percentage of People Understand Data Labels15

Figure 4: Percentage of People use leftover in other meals15

Figure 5: Percentage of Food Discarded by Households16

Figure 6: Type of Food Product Frequently Disposed Off17

Figure 7: Frequency of Food Given in Charity17

Figure 8: Awareness Regarding Food Collection and Disposal Services19

INTRODUCTION

Research Background

Food waste is emerging as the global dilemma and impacting almost all countries across the globe. Food waste also referred to as food loss comprises of all kinds of food that is either discarded or lost uneaten. According to a recent survey of UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) (2011) around one third of the world's total food that is being produced each year for human consumption is either wasted or discarded. This comprises that around 1.3 billion tonnes of food production across the world that is produced for the human or households' consumption each is discarded resulting in huge catastrophe for both developing and developed countries in terms of food shortage significantly impacting on poor sections of the society.

Baqtiste (2007) asserted that food waste and loss occurs on all stages of food supply chain that is from production channels to distribution, retailing and consumption. However, countries significantly vary in amount each stage of food supply chain that evidenced food loss. Researchers for e.g. (Quested & Johnson, 2009; Pocock et al., 2008) asserted that food loss in developing or low-income countries mostly occurs during the production stage or phases while on contrary majority of food loss in developed nations occurs at the consumption stage of ...