A recent study revealed that the trend of wasting food is increasing in the country and the surplus food that is wasted at wedding programmes in the capital is the highest among total food wastage. The survey also revealed that the number of food consumers are increasing fast in recent years. Food waste occurs mostly in wedding parties, in eateries and restaurants as consumption pattern suggests increasing trends of eating out against the backdrop of a growing middle class and urbanization in the country.
The research was conducted jointly by Action Aid, a nongovernmental organisation, and Macomm, an advertising farm. The study was conducted on 1,500 people of Uttara, Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Mohammadpur, Dhanmondi and Old Dhaka of the capital. Sharmin Helal, assistant manager of the study, said, "People between 25 to 30 years of age waste 57 percent of food while eating.”
This is alarmingly high in mostly posh societies, she added. Food and Nutrient Researcher Munzurul Ekram said family education is important in controlling food waste, which is currently declining. Attractive offers of restaurants and commercialization of different national or special days also playing role in waste of food. At the same, the trend of eating out and wasting behaviour increasing among city youths, he mentioned.
Farah Kabir, Country Director of Action-Aid Bangladesh said, “Buying capacity of people is increasing in Bangladesh's. But there is a lack of awareness among them when it comes to shopping and food waste” Rahid Ezaz, food consumption behavior researcher said, creating mass awareness is important to stop wasting food.
The objective of the research was to understand the food consumption behaviour, shifting trends of food consumption patterns, expenditure analysis on food consumption, wastage in food consumption, sources and propensity, he added.