Food waste in Barcelona

Have you ever wondered why our refrigerators become overstuffed with meats, vegetables, and various fruits, only to discover at week’s end that much of it—often the majority—must be discarded due to spoilage?

The European Union has put forward a plan to impose binding targets on its 27 member states to slash food waste from households, retailers and restaurants 30 percent this decade.

Brussels estimates the bloc generates almost 59 million tons of food waste a year - or 131 kilograms per person.

That represents a loss of some 132 billion euros ($144 billion).

European Union countries will be required to rein in food waste this decade under draft EU plans aimed at tackling the 10% of food in Europe that gets thrown away.

An estimated 131 kilograms of food is wasted per European inhabitant each year, the EU has said, costing consumers money, emitting excess carbon dioxide, and squandering energy, fuel and water used in food production.