Food waste reaches 50% for fruits and vegetables

According to FAO figures food waste in the Middle East and North Africa is estimated at 250 kilos per person per year. In Tunisia the cost of food waste would reach the equivalent of 5% of household food expenditure.

 

 

 

During the recent event "Food Loss and Waste Reduction and Value Chain Development for Food Security in Egypt and Tunisia" in Tunis, FAO representatives unveiled statistics on the Middle East and North Africa.

 

 

 

For the Middle East and North Africa, the amount of food lost is about 1.3 billion tonnes per year. That's 250 kilograms per person / year and the equivalent of 60 billion USD lost. For North Africa only losses and wastage are estimated at 210 kilos per year. Of this total 85% are related to losses between producer and seller, the remaining 15%, is associated to the consumer.

 

 

 

Waste and losses are 15% to 20% for cereals, 16% for meat, 27% for fish and seafood and 50% for fruit and vegetables.