Because of its strict zero food waste policies, sustainable agricultural practices, and the healthy eating habits of its people, France has retained the top spot in the Food Sustainability Index, a study of 34 countries by The Economist Intelligence Unit and the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition Foundation.
Food waste produced annually in selected countries worldwide 2020. China and India produce more household food waste than any other country worldwide at an estimated 92 million and 69 million metric tons every year, respectively.
Switzerland is the only country that does not send any waste to landfill. The Swiss produce 706kg of waste per capita, of which 333kg are incinerated and 210kg are recycled.
Spain is the latest European country to pass new legislation aimed at reducing its high levels of food waste. Supermarkets will be fined for discarding unsold food, and restaurants must be able to provide 'doggy bags' for leftovers.
Australian households waste 2.5 million tonnes of food each year, or more than 4kg per household per week. Organic material makes up about 50% of a what is in the average household wheelie bin. By the end of the decade, Australia has a national target to halve food waste.
There are many reasons why we tend to waste so much perfectly good food. One of the most common reasons is that Australian households cook too much food and do not know how to use leftovers. We also throw food out by mistake before the use-by date, or forget about food in the fridge until they have expired.
This national food waste picture aligns with data from the Food Sustainability Index from The Economist's Intelligence Unit, which ranks Australia as the fourth biggest food waster in the world, behind the USA in the number one spot, Canada and Belgium.
The world's hungriest countries: What we're missing
In 2022, several countries rank around Yemen in terms of hunger levels. They include Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria.
Bermuda. This North Atlantic paradise has a ban on fast food joints but that hasn't stopped McDonald's trying to open over here a few times. It found a loophole in the form of the US Naval Air Station for military people and their families, but when that closed in 1995 it, too, had to go.
Always leave food on your plate in China.
That's not so in China. Finishing your plate when dining at someone's home in China suggests the food wasn't filling enough, and that your host was skimping on the portion size. Always leave behind a little food to show the host that their meal was filling and satisfying.
Australia produces around 76 million tonnes of waste every year, a number that is increasing. Around 27% of Australia's waste goes to landfill.
Sweden is aiming for zero waste. This means stepping up from recycling to reusing. It is early morning, and 31-year-old Daniel Silberstein collects his bike from the storeroom in his block of flats. But not before he has separated out his empty cartons and packaging into the containers in the shared basement.
While it's impossible to create zero waste, there are many ways to reduce consumption that can benefit the planet. People in the movement prioritize recycling and reusing products and goods rather than purchasing single-use items that clog up landfills and contribute to climate change and global warming.
Italy's food came in first place followed by Greece and Spain. India received 4.54 points and the best rated foods of the country include "garam masala, malai, ghee, butter garlic naan, keema", the rating said.
China wastes an estimated 91.6 million tonnes of food per year while India discards 68.8 million tonnes. The US is a little further down the ranking with 19.4 million tonnes of food waste while in Europe, France and Germany produce between five and six million tonnes annually.
The French senate has unanimously passed a law that stops grocery stores from throwing away and intentionally spoiling food that approaches best-buy dates.
Bermuda. Until 1995, there was only one McDonald's restaurant on this island. Now, there are zero. The country has a law banning foreign fast-food joints that has been in place since the 1970s.
What's more, Montpelier is the smallest state capital in terms of population, with only about 7,500 people. In addition to being on the small side, Montpelier tends to favor local businesses over large chains, so McDonald's shouldn't take it personally. The city doesn't have a Burger King either.
Iceland actually had the highest-priced Big Mac in the whole world in the year of 2009. The restaurant then closed down in 2009 due to the financial crash that happened in 2008. On the last day that McDonald's was open, Icelanders crowded the restaurant for one last time.
The world population could be too big to feed itself by 2050. By then, there will be almost 10 billion people on the planet and food demand will have increased by 70 percent compared to 2017. Scientists put the limit on how many people Earth can feed at 10 billion - max!
Meat shortages, especially beef and poultry, will plague us again in 2022. Daniels says that meat and poultry are in short supply in many supermarkets. This is due to several factors, with manufacturing plant labor shortages causing most of the issues.
1. Chicken parmigiana. This classic Aussie chicken dish – with roots in Italian-American cooking – is a staple offering at many pub menus in the country. Whether you call it a parmi/parmy or a parma (but never a parmo), there's huge debate about where does the best parmigiana in Australia.
Who says all the great food is just in the mainland? With its quality air, water, and soil, Tasmania consistently produces world-class produce and wine, which is why it's home to some of the best restaurants in the country and a staple in Australian food culture.
In Australia, food security is not measured at a population level regularly or consistently. However, estimates suggest that between 4% and 13% of the general population are food insecure; and 22% to 32% of the Indigenous population, depending on location.