Consumers urged to avoid food waste during the holidays
During the holidays, the amount of food thrown away increases, on average, by about 30%. In this context, the National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) warns citizens to consume food in moderation, to avoid food waste.
To reduce food waste, it is recommended to plan meals daily, use surplus products from preparing previous meals, use casseroles to store food or freeze extra cooked dishes, use small portion plates that can be refilled as needed, store food properly - make sure the refrigerator is suitable between 1 °C and 5 °C).
“Dear consumers! We all have an important role in reducing food waste, through moderate food consumption, planning, preparing and storing them! It is an additional method to save money and maintain a clean and healthy environment. With minimal effort, food waste can be reduced!”, reads a statement issued by ANSA.
ANSA also recommends that you go shopping with a list of products prepared in advance. Buy only the amount you need, depending on the number of people you will celebrate with. Specialists also warn against purchasing and consuming products that are on sale or close to their best-before date, provided that they will be used as soon as possible.
Food safety specialists also urge consumers to purchase only food from authorized places, to avoid food products sold on the streets - even if the price offered is lower than in shops. This is because unauthorized traders cannot ensure optimal conditions for the transport, storage and sale of food products and cannot issue a receipt with which you can justify the commercial transaction in the case of a non-compliant product.
According to ANSA data, each citizen throws away hundreds of kilograms of food annually.
