Nowadays people waste a lot of food that was bought from shops and restaurants. Why do you think people waste food? What can be done to reduce the amount of food they throw away?

In some parts of the world,

food

is still highly valued. In urban areas,

however

, particularly in the developed world,

food

waste

is becoming a major concern.

This

essay will examine the causes of

this

problem and suggest ways that people can curb the amount that they discard. The two main factors are behind the rise in

food

waste

. The

first

is the rising incomes of the population, which has meant higher disposable incomes.

In other words

, whereas 50 years ago, the average family had around $50 per month to spend on

food

and entertainment, now the figure is more like $2000, and so the idea of buying something and not consuming it is unremarkable. The

second

factor, linked to the

first

, is the modern throw-away culture in which all products are treated as disposable. It is not uncommon to find valuable household items thrown in the bin, it is

also

unsurprising to see half the family's groceries binned without concern. Tackling the issue involves altering the public's mindset.

This

needs to happen via awareness-raising campaigns. The ABC,

for example

, launched one

such

initiative with the war on

waste

TV series and website in 2016, which presented troubling facts on the effects of our consumption and

waste

. Given the profound impact of

this

series on the Australian public, it would be worth expanding it on a global scale.

In addition

to warning people about the environmental impact of

food

wastage,

such

projects could

also

educate them better on practical matters

such

as shopping smarter and storing

food

correctly. In conclusion, unless efforts are made to shift the public consciousness,

this

problem will only escalate. While governments have a critical role to play, individuals too need to take responsibility for their shopping habits in order to cut down on wasted

food

.