The latest national estimates of how much "food loss" was in 2020 were announced, and the annual amount was about 5.22 million tons, the lowest ever.

The government is looking to take further steps, as the awareness of reducing food loss is increasing and the opportunities for restaurants to serve food are reduced due to the influence of the new coronavirus.

The national government has set a goal of halving the annual amount of food loss, which is normally edible, from about 9.8 million tons as of 2000 to 2030.

The latest



food loss estimate was announced on the 9th

.

The total amount was 5.22 million tons.

This is the lowest since we started collecting statistics, and compared to the previous year,

▽ business-related sales decreased by 340,000 tons, and

▽ household-related sales decreased by 140,000 tons.








The reason for this is that in addition to the growing awareness of reducing food loss, the impact of the new coronavirus is also significant, and the opportunity for restaurants to serve out is reduced due to shortened business hours. I'm trying to find out.



However, in order to achieve the annual target, it is necessary to reduce the amount by more than 300,000 tons, and Makoto Tanaka, director of the Food Loss Reduction Promotion Office of the Consumer Affairs Agency, said, "Although it is steadily decreasing, there is also a special social situation called the new corona. I would like to work to reduce losses even as the economy recovers. "

Consumer Affairs Agency Introducing specific efforts to reduce food loss

The Consumer Affairs Agency has called for cooperation in reducing food loss under the "Project to Eliminate Waste of Food" and introduces specific efforts by local governments, the private sector, and students on its website.



Of these, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government operates a matching system to have local governments in Tokyo register information on food stocks for disasters whose expiration date is approaching and to smoothly provide them to the desired food bank.



In addition, an organization made up of students from Ritsumeikan University held a new cooking contest using foods that had lost their supply due to the effects of the new coronavirus, and made efforts to lead to future product development.



In addition, the Consumer Affairs Agency has set up the "Food Loss Reduction Promotion Award" and created a system to provide perishable foods such as surplus vegetables and tofu to children's cafeterias without storing them in the warehouse. We commend the efforts of companies that purchase imminent products and sell them online to consumers.



In addition, a senryu contest with the theme of reducing food loss was held, and award-winning works such as


"Open the refrigerator and look into his earth" and


"A new recipe with too much of his magic" will soon be available


from major food manufacturers. It will be posted on the product package and will help to raise awareness.