A national committee tasked with finding ways to reduce food waste could be established in Bahrain.
This point was made by Mohamed Tawfik Al Abbas, Chairman of the Finance, Administration and Legislative Committee, who yesterday pointed out that the members of the Board of Directors of the Capital Management Committee pointed out that the annual waste per person in the country amounts to 171 kg. The proposal was unanimously approved.
Bahrain’s population is 1,748,000.
“There are no exact statistics on food loss and waste, but it can be easily estimated from items purchased and items discarded,” Al Abbas said.
He added: “The country suffers from a lack of public awareness of the value of food and from over-purchasing.”
“Current campaigns aimed at reducing food waste, while well-intentioned, are small in scale, have limited success, and are sporadic rather than systematic and targeted.
“The lack of viable options means food is being wasted rather than being donated to reach people in need through the efforts of voluntary organizations and charities.”
Mr. Al Abbas said the country needs a dedicated national committee to reduce and control food loss and waste and coordinate efforts between ministries, government agencies and organizations, communities and clubs, and educational institutions. said.
“The committee conducts field surveys to study loss and waste issues, organizes an annual plan to combat such irresponsible practices, and ensures that food is spoiled, spoiled, and expired. They will be responsible for putting in place systems to reproduce food or use it for other manufacturing purposes before it becomes a food product,” he said.
“The goal and slogan is ‘reducing food waste’ and I think a work plan should be developed immediately.
“It starts by building a network that includes food manufacturers, central markets, restaurants, hotels, wedding venues and corresponding charities and organizations.”
He said the committee will include members from the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Agriculture, Commerce and Industry, Health and Sustainable Development, the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, licensed charities, and other stakeholders involved in this process. It revealed that.
Mr Al Abbas said: “The committee needs to develop immediate and future legislation to ensure food losses and waste are reduced, including imposing tough penalties on food importers and all food preparation facilities. There is,” he said.
“Commercial retailers should also be encouraged to advertise products that are nearing expiration well in advance of expiration, rather than days before, to avoid them being thrown away or thrown away.”
Meanwhile, board president Saleh Talada said some restaurants and diners in Bahrain have started charging people who don’t finish their meals, whether they order or take from a buffet.
“We have to be tough when it comes to food loss and waste because statistics show that the amount being wasted is 171 kilograms per person per year, which is really worrying from a population perspective.” he said.
“The practice of some restaurants and diners levying fines for crowded plates at open buffets, or ordering more for a table than they ate, makes it seem as if someone else had actually ordered the food.” will be charged.
“That’s a good thing, but again, if someone takes it away and throws it to avoid prosecution, or a restaurant touches the food, they’ll just throw it away after prosecution.”
He added that many countries in Europe and Asia have long since cracked down on such irresponsible behavior.
“National committees should act dynamically every time they are formed and find real solutions to problems.”
Approximately 1.8 million tons of waste are dumped in Hafira every year, and the landfill currently spans 2.83 kilometers.
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