Top 10 Countries that Waste the Most Food

Despite widespread hunger and food insecurity affecting millions across the globe, a staggering amount of food is still wasted every year. This waste happens at every stage, from farm to fork. In many countries, food is lost on farms due to outdated harvesting, poor storage, or lack of transport.

The problem exists even in our homes. Cultural norms in many regions encourage preparing and serving more food than needed, much of which ends up in the trash. While some nations face empty plates, others throw away tons of edible food. Please find below; Countries where food waste is alarmingly high.

1. China
China ranks at the top in terms of food waste. Annually, 108 million tons of food are discarded. A number of factors contribute to the high number.

2. India
India suffers from a significant food waste problem. The waste occurs through every step of the food supply chain, from transportation to food consumption practices. The volume of food waste is the second highest in the world, at 78 million tons per year.

3. Pakistan
A significant amount of food is wasted in Pakistan, nearly 31 million tons a year. From infrastructure issues to cultural norms, food waste is high there for several reasons.

4. Nigeria
Another country that ends up wasting a lot of food is Nigeria. Lack of adequate infrastructure for food storage, inefficient processing facilities, political conflict, and unrest are some of the factors that contribute to 24.8 million tons of food going to waste each year.

5. USA
The United States wastes a lot of food, about 24.7 million tons every year. From high aesthetic standards to over-ordering, many reasons contribute to the high quantities of food wasted in the US.

6. Brazil
Brazil, too, ranks high in terms of food waste. Every year, nearly 20 million tons of food are thrown away.

7. Egypt
Food waste in Egypt can be attributed to several factors, such as culture, habits, and poor infrastructure. The average amount of food wasted every year is 18.1 million tons.

8. Indonesia
Indonesia wastes about 15 million tons of food every year. Reports suggest that Indonesia’s malnourishment issues can be solved if appropriate measures are taken to stop the waste.

9. Bangladesh
About 14 million tons of food were wasted last year in Bangladesh. It is estimated that around 30% of its total food production is lost for a number of reasons.

10. Mexico
Mexico has a huge problem when it comes to combating food waste. Approximately 70% of food never makes it to the market due to pricing issues and demand for specific produce shape or color. Read more:>>>>

Sources: (World Population Review) (Statista) (World Resources Institute)