Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal | Sustainable Living & Food Waste Reduction Guide | Perfect for Eco-Conscious Consumers & Environmental Activists

In "Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal," Tristram Stuart reveals the ugly and massive scale of the food waste problem, along with the "connectedness" of the global food system and the negative impact of the wasteful habits of rich countries on less developed countries and the environment.Stuart provides a reality check and shows that we need to think differently about our food; noting that we produce more than enough food now - and that we are capable of feeding all of the hungry people in the world if we stop wasting food and use those resources effectively.He educates us on the severity of the problem throughout the food chain, including issues at the supermarket level (where overstocking and displays of "perfect" produce lead to substantial waste) as well as issues at the manufacturing level, where that same quest for perfection - along with overproduction and minimal costs associated with environmental externalities - leads to additional waste.He also covers many other key themes including the extent of household waste, the waste resulting from confusion over sell-by dates, the alarming waste in our fisheries, the value of using all parts of animals, and the need for infrastructure investment to reduce losses from spoilage in less developed areas where hunger is already a severe problem.Stuart effectively makes the link to climate change and shows that our culture of waste puts enormous pressure on the environment; as we seek to grow more and more food we consume more and more land, deplete finite resources, and pollute our air and water. He notes that we all need to look not only at wasted food but to all of the resources that went into producing it, the resources consumed in the discard process, and the ensuing environmental harm as wasted food decomposes in landfills.Stuart shows us that as consumers, we have the power to influence retailers and hence drive change through the supply chain. We become more aware that we have a social responsibility to make a concerted effort to reduce our food waste and make good use of those resources when nearly one billion individuals on the planet are hungry. Stuart provides awareness of the need for change, and notes that we would be well advised to reflect on lessons in frugality from our past (such as the World War II era), and from specific cultures (like the Uighurs).In sum, when it comes to food waste and the larger food system that drives it, we need a serious "rethink" - and Stuart lays the groundwork beautifully to lead us down that path. "Waste" is an outstanding work; a great read for those interested in the nine billion by 2050 problem and the potential for reductions in food waste to help mitigate it. It is a call to everyone - especially to those in rich countries - that wasting 30-50% of food produced is indeed a "scandal" of global proportions and is not sustainable.