Awareness Of Food Waste Research Articles

Benefits, Barriers, and Challenges to University-Level Food Waste Tracking

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to assess the perceptions of dining services’ staff toward tracking food waste within a large university using focus group discussions and structured interviews. Participants reported that food waste tracking resulted in improved awareness of food waste, individually directed corrective action, lower food costs, increased accountability, and shifts in perspectives. Reported barriers included logistical concerns with weighing, such as time required, compliance, communication, and need for ongoing training. Recommendations ranged from establishing a university-wide policy instituting food waste tracking programs per facility to manipulating employee work schedules internally to accommodate tracking.