One of the key findings of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology that was released last week, found that more food is being wasted among Filipino households, even as many families are still struggling to meet their daily nutritional needs.
Plate waste, referring to food left uneaten after a meal and discarded or given to pets, has increased significantly, with households throwing away an average 130 grams daily in 2023, which is 53 grams more than the 77 grams of food waste in 2018.
Rural households were found to discard more food than their urban counterparts, particularly, rice, corn, and vegetables.
“Our plate waste has increased and this is alarming,” said Dr. Eva Goyena, FNRI senior science research specialist. She said “the food could have given the body nutrients, but was discarded instead.”
The 2023 survey covered 115,651 individuals across 36,703 households, while the 2018 survey had more respondents at 325,512 across a greater number of households at 94,999.
“This is just what’s left over on the plate that can be eaten but is thrown out or given to pets,” Goyena said, adding that the figures don’t even account for food discarded because of spoilage. She added that common cooking and preparation habits contribute significantly to food wastage, making it a persistent problem in many homes.
While citing the prevalence of food wastage, the NNS findings also show that Filipinos from across all age groups don’t eat enough to meet their recommended energy intake, with only 26 percent of Filipino households meeting their energy and nutrient needs.
Dr. Mildred Guirindola, FNRI chief science research specialist, called for stronger government policies to support household nutrition, particularly making healthier options more accessible. She hopes the government can consider making sari-sari stores better conduits for healthy and nutritious food options.
The paradox of Filipinos wasting more food, but at the same time not getting enough nutrients from what they have eaten, is an interesting one that needs to be addressed, mostly with education and awareness. Our countrymen have to be made aware of how much food we are wasting, both left unconsumed on plates, and lost to wasteful preparation, and what can be done to minimize that waste.
Furthermore, they also have to be educated on how to improve the nutritional value of the meals we prepare, as it seems that we are consuming more junk food than ever, which is another form of waste when we eat food that does not benefit our bodies as it should.*
