Govt study to tackle food wastage

Tonnes of food go to waste every day and the Government wants to know why and how this can be reduced.

It has commissioned a food waste survey and plans to interview 1,000 Singaporeans aged 18 and above. The study, which hopes to tackle the country's worsening food wastage problem, is expected to be completed by next month.

According to tender documents obtained by The Straits Times, the study will look at respondents' shopping, cooking, eating and catering habits.

Those surveyed will also be asked how much and what type of food they waste and why.

What will also be examined is consumers' knowledge of and attitudes towards food wastage, and to identify ways to motivate people to waste less food.

Last year, Singapore generated 796,000 tonnes of food waste, an increase of 13 per cent from the 703,200 tonnes dumped in 2012.

This is the sharpest spike in at least six years.

The study will be managed by the Food Wastage Reduction Working Group, which was set up in 2012 to come up with recommendations and initiatives to address Singapore's food wastage problem.

The National Environment Agency, which co-chairs the group with the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, said the survey will help the working group "scope its outreach programme and refine target audiences".

It added that the aim is not only to raise awareness of the importance of reducing food wastage, but also to emphasise individual responsibility in cutting down on food waste.

Singapore Environment Council spokesman Lynda Hong said the survey will help the authorities understand the extent of food wastage along the supply chain, from the time food is produced till it reaches consumers.

samboh@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on September 8, 2014.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.