Saudi authorities urge public to avoid food waste during Ramadan

RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia have called for “rational behavior” when people break their fast during Ramadan, to help reduce the amount of meat that is wasted in the Kingdom during the holy month.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said large quantities of meat end up in landfill and dumps during Ramadan, and this waste creates challenges for the agricultural sector.

Studies have found that the average person in the Kingdom wastes more than 184 kilograms of food each year, amounting to a total of about 4 million tons nationwide. This represents the loss of 18.9 percent of all food, at a cost of more than SR40 billion ($10.7 billion) a year. Experts say one of the main reasons for this is declining public awareness of food waste.

Ministry figures show that 444,000 tons of poultry meat are wasted each year in Saudi Arabia, 22,000 tons of lamb, 13,000 tons of camel meat, 69,000 tons of fish, and 41,000 tons of other kinds of meat.

Officials urged the public to be more aware of the important need to reduce meat waste and to adopt more rational patterns of consumption to address the challenge, help achieve sustainable development goals, and preserve natural resources.

They highlighted the importance of proper planning before buying food, taking into account the number of people to be fed, and of not serving excessive amounts of food in a single meal. It also recommended saving leftovers to use in subsequent meals, or donating uneaten food.

The ministry also said it has introduced several initiatives designed to raise awareness of the issues surrounding food waste and encourage the public to adopt more sustainable consumer behaviors. These include campaigns to educate people about ways to reduce and preserve meat and reduce waste, including through improved storage and refrigeration.