FOODSTUFFS WASTAGE IN CZECH HOUSEHOLDS
Marie Prášilová1*, Pavla Varvazovská2 and Adéla Pachtová3
1 Assist. Prof. Dr., Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech republic, prasilova@pef.czu.cz
2 Dr., Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech republic, varvazovska@pef.czu.cz
3 Doctoral Student, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Czech republic, pachtova@pef.czu.cz
*Corresponding Author
Abstract
Foodstuffs wastage is a considerable problem having a negative impact on the economic, environmental and social area of life of the society. Financial and human capital has been spent on foodstuffs wastage unnecessarily, there is a burden on the environment through food waste cumulation with the subsequent generation of landfill gas, and water wastage and unnecessary devastation of land follow. Foodstuffs wastage in developed countries opens the scissors between the developed and the developing countries. Czech Republic belongs among the European countries with lower level of household foodstuffs waste. The paper is dealing with the problem of foodstuffs wastage in Czech households. Underlying data have been obtained based on a field questionnaire survey, the outcomes of which have been assessed using statistical methods from the area of verbal variables relationships analysis. Most Czech households throw away bread and white pastries most frequently, meat (chicken, usually) exceptionally only, and vegetables and fruit due to poor storage. 46.59 % of households dispose of food once a week as a rule, but in a small volume only (up to 200 grams), and they estimate the annual volume at about 26 kilo per head. Consumers are not afraid to consume foodstuffs with the shelf life date or the minimum durability expired. It has been found that, the house- hold food wastage is under influence of the community size and the type of living (house, apartment). Food wastage volumes are not connected to frequency of shopping, but to planning of shopping. Households are not adequately informed as concerns the correct storage of foodstuffs and the acceptable ways of food waste handling. The respondents showed willingness to sort the waste if the container is near the dwelling. The survey has shown that, 90 % of households are willing to donate foodstuffs to the needy through a food collection or a national food bank.
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