Each person wastes 250 kg food annually

JEDDAH: An estimated 34 percent of food in the country goes to waste, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture.
In restaurants alone, a third of all cooked food is wasted, said Abdullah Thunayan, executive director of the Charitable Food Association (Etaam), according to a report in a local publication recently.
He said the ministry has calculated that each person wastes about 250 kg annually. Thunayan said It’am saves leftover food. “We are always careful not to use food that was touched to prevent diseases. We also don’t deal with food that cannot be preserved,” he said.
It’am has won two prizes in the past week for its work, in Qatar for leading social projects in the GCC, and by Arabian Business for best social initiative in Saudi Arabia, at an event held in Riyadh. The award was accepted by board member Essam Al-Muhaideb.
Al-Muhaideb urged consumers in Saudi Arabia to contribute to the reduction of post-harvest losses and food waste, and said wastage was caused by excessive spending and those wanting to flaunt their wealth.
The organization saved 699,168 meals in the Eastern Province and Riyadh in 2014. It’am began its work in the the Eastern Province and is currently working to expand across the Kingdom.