Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present data on the scale of food waste in the meat sector and to emphasize the need to disseminate measures to reduce the number of losses in this sector. The article discusses food loss and waste in the meat sector as a current, widespread and serious problem. The Web of Science database was searched up to March 2021 to find publications reporting studies of the food loss and waste with particular emphasis on the meat sector. Due to the relatively high consumption of meat and meat products, the level of losses during production and of product waste by consumers in consumer stage becomes significant. It is estimated that as much as 23% of production in the meat sector is lost and wasted. The largest share is generated at the consumption level, representing 64% of the total food waste, followed by manufacturing (20%), distribution (12%) and primary production and post-harvest (3.5%). Data on food losses and wastage in the meat sector are very limited, and at the same time the production of meat and meat products is characterized by an unfavorable impact on the environment (meat has the highest emissions per kilogram of food compared to other food products), which requires rational management of these products in the entire chain (production, processing, transport and consumer stage). Therefore, determining the size and causes of formation as well as the methods of reducing food losses and food waste throughout the meat sector is important both for economic and environmental reasons. The idea behind food loss and waste reduction should be as an opportunity to improve efficiency within businesses, redirect food to those who need it and reduce environmental impacts.
Highlights
Food losses and wastage are one of the most important problems of the modern world.The scale of this phenomenon is so large that it should be treated as a global problem
There is little data available on food loss and wastage for the meat sector, the production of meat and meat products is characterized by an unfavorable impact on the environment, which requires rational management of these products in the entire chain
Despite the growing ecological awareness of societies and progress in the field of environmental protection, it seems that the abundance and over-consumption of Europeans have not been criticized by consumers about the consequences of such a widespread and growing phenomenon of food waste
Summary
Food losses and wastage are one of the most important problems of the modern world. The scale of this phenomenon is so large that it should be treated as a global problem. Food waste and losses has become an important political issue as the demand for food on a global scale is steadily increasing due to the increase in population and consumption [5,14].According to the literature, the generation of food waste along the food value chain occurs in most stages from field to fork, including in agricultural production, postharvest handling and trade, manufacture processing, food services, wholesale, retail and final household consumption [15,16].Literature shows a number of solutions that may be implemented in the appropriate management of food waste, among which the most sought-after solutions are currently represented by avoidance and donation of edible fractions to social services. The article discusses food waste in the meat sector as a current, widespread and serious problem
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