Food in the trash

Scientists have calculated the nutritional value of discarded food

Shops and shoppers throw away food every day, the energy value of which is equal to 60% of the average daily diet

Natalia Pelezneva, Naked Science

Food shortages are a problem that affects not only economically disadvantaged countries of the world. According to the calculations According to the US Department of Agriculture, in 2015, only 87.3% of American households were fully provided with food and met the requirements of food security. 7.7% experienced some difficulties, and representatives of 5% of households regularly had to skip some meals or eat much less than they would like.

Since regular meals are still not available to everyone, the problem of discarded products attracts special attention of experts. According to the Guardian newspaper, about a third of all food products produced in the world are thrown away every year. It is sent to the landfill by manufacturers, large store chains, and buyers. Often these products meet all quality requirements, but are thrown out because of the "imperfect" appearance.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have calculated the nutritional value of foods that are annually thrown away in the United States (Spiker et al., Wasted Food, Wasted Nutrients: Nutrient Loss from Wasted Food in the United States and Comparison to Gaps in Dietary Intake). The scientists used information about the nutrient content in food presented in the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, created by the US Department of Agriculture. The paper analyzes 213 products that are often thrown away in the United States according to data on food availability adjusted for losses (Loss-Adjusted Food Availability data series, calculations of the US Department of Agriculture).

Biologically significant elements in discarded products:
dietary fiber, vitamin C, iron, calcium, potassium. 
Illustration Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
(Wasted Food Means Wasted Nutrients – VM).

According to the study, the total amount of discarded foods in the United States per person per day accounts for 146 grams of carbohydrates, 33 grams of protein, 57 grams of fat. There are a lot of biologically significant elements in food: the average American throws out 880 mg of potassium, 450 mg of phosphorus, 286 mg of calcium a day. The scientists also investigated the caloric content of the annually discarded products and found that they contain about 1217 kcal per person per day. This is about 60% of the average calorie intake for a sedentary person (2000 kcal per day).

The work took into account data on products "written off" at the production stage and in stores, as well as those that consumers throw away. Scientists hope that their research will help both sellers and buyers to be more aware of the volume of purchases. This is especially important when you consider that the diet of many people lacks important biologically significant elements. For example, an adult woman is recommended to consume about 18 mg of iron per day, but the average American woman gets 13.6 mg. At the same time, according to scientists' calculations, 5.3 mg of iron per person is thrown out daily with food in the United States. 

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  16.05.2017