For a country that has been relying on imports to fill shortfalls in domestic output and grappling with high prices, the Philippines can be considered a paradox when it comes to food waste. In a statement on the results of the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS) it published on its website on July 3, the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) said food waste remains a significant issue in the Philippines. Based on the results of the NNS, there was a notable increase in plate waste in 2023, with households discarding an average of 53 grams more food per day compared to 2018-2019.
Dr. Eva A. Goyena, Senior Science Research Specialist at DOST-FNRI, explained that common cooking and preparation habits contribute significantly to this issue, making food wastage a persistent problem in many homes. Goyena said the survey focused on plate waste, which refers to food left uneaten that could still have provided nutrients but was thrown away or given to pets. She said the increase in plate waste is concerning as it does not account for total food waste, such as spoiled or rotten food.
The agency found that despite being a staple food, rice, vegetables and fish were among the wasted foods. These items are usually imported by the Philippines, particularly rice, which is bought in huge quantities by traders. Additionally, DOST-FNRI said rural households were found to waste more food than their urban counterparts, particularly rice, corn, and vegetables.
The report of the United Nations Environment Program last year, which indicated that food waste declined compared to the 2021 level, showed that a significant quantity of produce is still being discarded by households. The 2024 edition of UNEP’s food waste index showed that each Filipino household threw away an estimated 26 kilograms of food per year or a total of 2.954 million tons for all households. The figure is lower than its estimate of 86 kilograms per capita or a total of 9.33 million tons in 2021, when UNEP said it had ‘very low confidence’ in the estimate.
The figures for food wasted by retail institutions and by food service companies are higher compared to households in the 2024 edition, at 44 kilograms per capita and 40 kilograms per capita, respectively. UNEP said, however, that it had ‘very low confidence’ in these estimates. ‘Very low confidence’ means that the Philippines had no identified estimates and the UN unit had to extrapolate the figure.
What’s clear in these findings, however, is that the Philippines has a long way to go in terms of reducing food waste. The government and the private sector must step up efforts to raise awareness on this issue, particularly since the country continues to import rice and other food items in huge quantities. The Philippines is paying foreign farmers in dollars for food that eventually ends up in landfills.