Food Wastage

Love food...hate waste...

Avoid throwing away good food and help preserve the environment and save money in the process. If you remember your last restaurant visit and compare that with overall statistics of food wastage in India alone, you would want to go back and lick your plate clean and maybe even the utensils, the food was served in. But, the lack of awareness around the issue and interrelated issues, such as malnutrition, poverty and food shortage, is minimal and hence a small contributor to the larger picture of food waste and the aforesaid issues. But, food waste alone incurs huge monetary losses to industries and mankind, in general.

Food waste primarily revolves around any form of food, raw or cooked, used or unused discarded or intended so. Professional bodies and governments alike, further diversify the definitions to various categories and implications such as the kind of food waste, the form it is produced/generated by and materials and source of waste. The dramatic impact that food waste can have on a particular nation, in terms of economic and social perspectives, is enormous especially in larger countries like the USA, UK and India depending on the population and food consumption.

Of the various countries trying to tackle the issues of food waste and their respective losses, Japan seems to be doing very well via the administrative system. Against Indias all-encompassing laws for food waste, Japan has various laws pertaining to the different causes of food wastage, such as Container & Packaging Recycling Law, Food Wastes Recycling Law and even a Law on promoting Green Purchase, enabling industries and agriculturists to look towards effective uses of resources and also join the eco drive which needs more initiatives like these. Various scientists and environmentalists believe, stringent laws, effective administration and self responsibility are the more vital points which can be looked at for grass root changes to come about, especially in country like India, where the maximum food waste comes from the agricultural waste sector. A report submitted by Rabo India Finance, a private consultancy firm, in 2007 to the government of India estimates a whopping 58,000 crores worth of rupees are lost due to agricultural food waste, alone.

However, food waste can be tackled in more effective ways, with the help of various schematic and planned methods implemented by the governments and private firms simultaneously. Food waste, like other waste can be dumped but could also be used for various other purposes such as feeding animals or be biodegraded by various methods such as a composting and used for soil enrichment. Though a lot of the food waste caused due to the food processing can be difficult to reduce without affecting the quality of the finished product, certain incentives must be provided by the administrative bodies, to look to reduce this form of food waste. Also, a lot of food waste is created post harvest due to the lack of infrastructural facilities such as cold chain provisions, transportation and proper storage facilities. However, with a growth in the retail market and its demand, a lot of foreign companies have shown interest in agri-based and processed food products.

The following countries are the countries that are affected the most by food deprivation: Africa, India, and Pakistan. Many of the people affected by food waste are little children; about 5 million children die of starvation per year. Tons of food is dumped to landfills each year when the food thrown away is edible. The people around the world who starve can be saved and can be fed. What needs to happen is that people need to send more food to these people. Ones who are

affected the most are little children who only eat a meal once a day. If supermarkets along with other food industries gather up, together they could save many lives and also save money.

While millions starve in a country ranked second in the world for the number of children suffering from malnutrition, India also witnesses abject waste in abundance. Food is hoarded for price rise, until rot sets in, and is no longer fit for human consumption. And across the cities, marriage halls hold feasts, while beggars outside scavenge through the garbage, looking for another days sustenance.

Weddings faulted for prodigious food waste: As the ranks of Indias wealthy surge with rapid economic growth, many families are staging extravagant displays of food at their childrens weddings to show off their newfound affluence. The prodigious waste that follows has horrified many in a nation where food prices are skyrocketing and tens of millions of young children are malnourished. one-fifth of the food served at weddings and social gatherings is discarded, Its a criminal waste, The tons of food wasted at social gatherings across the country each day contrasts sharply with the food shortages, often bordering on chronic starvation, faced by millions of poor Indians..

Like elsewhere in Asia, food prices in India are rising fast as demand outstrips production. And the burden is falling disproportionately on the poor. Experts say the jump in prices for staples to record highs over the past few months has pushed another 64 million Asians into poverty.

Food Waste-to-Energy Conversion The problem of waste management runs across geographies and its gravest causal agent, i.e., urbanism, is a global phenomenon. However, its ramifications are relatively more pronounced in developing nations on account of improved standards of living and changing consumption patterns. The growing population and increasing consumer demand are leading to excessive consumption of available resources and generation of tremendous amount of different kind of wastes, which is emerging as a chronic problem in urban societies. Their efficient management is needed at the earliest to avoid numerous problems related to public and environmental health. Serious Implications Food waste has serious implications for society. Consumers unnecessarily spend a lot of time and money on food they don't eat. Rotting food also pumps heaps of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Plus the costs for collecting, transporting and land filling the excess food come from the taxpayers. The good news is that some simple lifestyle adjustments offer huge payoffs for your family, community and the planet.

Food Crisis The situation of food wastage is not that serious in India as compared to the European and North America countries. These countries waste fresh produce for preposterous reasons. The carrots if they are not straight are discarded; if the apples are not of the right color then they are thrown away as waste. This is the manner in which one-third of the fresh produce is wasted. The wastage in the Indian subcontinent is due to different reasons. We in India lack proper transportation facilities to reach out to the market as well as cold storages for fresh produce and food crates.

Wastages of electricity

Electricity is made and distributed on demand, it is constantly made and cannot be stored. There are huge energy inefficiencies when it is made and distributed, and when it is not used it is wasted. We do not switch on all our appliances all the time (we typically have only half of them on), so only half of our electricity is actually used (known as the Utilisation Coefficient or Load Factor). The other half is wasted as it cannot be stored. Even in Winter, when peak demands are high, the whole system may only be using 70% of its capacity for 10% of the time. Gas waits in pipes ready to be used on call, it is a natural energy source and not manufactured like electricity. The diagram above shows the simple differences between the energy forms. Wood behaves the same, kept dry waiting to be burnt it releases all its heat energy only when needed. Wasting electricity is caused by leaving things on when they are not being used. This means leaving on lights when were not in the room, or leaving the TV on or plugged into the mains when we are not in the house. Any outlet plugged into the main socket will draw electricity, so it is the best interest of the household to leave electronicsturned off, or unplugged, until it needs to be used. With most chargeable battery items, such as phones, gaming devices and cameras, the battery length will deteriorate if left charging for too long, leading to a shorter battery life with each use. Therefore, once the device is fully charged, it should be removed, and the charger removed from the socket, to stop further waste of electricity. Even leaving an entire houses lights on when only using one room can waste five times as much energy than if youre using all the sockets in only one room. As well as needing to be replaced three times as much as any other electric component, lights use more than twice as much energy to run daily. To keep the same amount of light entering a room without using energy, one could try keeping the curtains open in certain rooms, to allow natural light to enter the house. This is both free, and is better for your eyes, reducing the strain on the iris to focus on things in low-light conditions.

The next time you find yourself craving a mid-afternoon snack, make some time to think about what your stomach is asking for before you open the fridge door and stare mindlessly at its contents. The food inside isn't going anywhere and I doubt that anything new will appear in the time it takes you to mentally fix a snack. However, every time you open the refrigerator door, the cold air that keeps your food fresh is running out the door and the warm air from the room is taking its place. This is a problem because now your refrigerator's compressor is going to work hard to drive all that warm air out and bring the temperature back to normal, elevating not only your monthly energy bills, but also your environmental footprint. According to Home Energy Magazine, door openings account for 7% of your fridge energy use while the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida says that poor open/close habits (like leaving the fridge door open while you soak your bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats with milk) waste 50 to 120kWh a year. In the long run, 50kWh of energy saved could run your dishwasher 20 times and 100kWh could run your washing machine 50 times, that's almost a free load of laundry every week for an entire year.

Uses of flowers in medicines

For several centuries, medical practitioners have long acknowledged the therapeutic
properties of certain flowers. More than just spanning time, this knowledge also spans many cultures around the world. One of the greatest advantages is that flowers and plants offer completely natural medicinal properties, often without the scary side effects that modern pills and medications bring on. Furthermore, remedies made from flowers can be much cheaper than drugs marketed by pharmaceutical companies. The best places to obtain dried flowers or their essential oils is a herbal health store. Be careful when preparing tonics and other mixtures since some flowers can be very potent. Pregnant or nursing mothers in particular should consult with their doctor before using any essential oils. To learn more about using medicinal flowers for home remedies, have a look at some of the most effective ones below. Angelica Herb Remember the green bits of candied angelica used to decorate cakes? It comes from the very same plant as the Angelica flower. Like the rest of the plant, the flower is extremely fragrant and has a number of medicinal uses including digestive disorders and coughs and colds. It can also be given as a strengthening tonic for seniors and children. Begonia Begonias can be prepared in several different ways. An infusion made by soaking the flowers in hot water helps to eliminate headaches and rid the body of toxins. The crushed flowers and leaves can also be rubbed directly on the skin to help relieve pain and heal sores or burns. Bellis Perennis Also known as the common daisy, this flower holds a wealth of medicinal properties despite its unassuming appearance. When used in an infusion, it acts as a laxative as well as an expectorant to purge the body of toxic matter. It is also used as a home remedy to help treat physical disorders such as arthritis and rheumatism. Direct application to the skin through an ointment or poultice aids in healing wounds. Black Cohosh Women should be very careful when using Black Cohosh as it is an extremely potent flower. Black Cohosh can be used as an emmenagogue, which means that it stimulates the uterus. Women with menstrual problems can effectively use low doses of this flower to help regulate their cycles and relieve pain. In the same vein, pregnant women should avoid it since it can bring on a miscarriage or early labor. Blood Root This little white flower is very effective in low doses when treating respiratory problems. It can be made into a paste when mixed with other compounds and applied on the skin to treat rashes, warts and various dermic problems. When ingested as a tea or tonic, bloodroot is very effective in cleansing the blood and lowering fevers.

Blue Lobelia Native Indians used Blue Lobelia as a treatment for syphilis as well as less severe ailments. Tea made with this flower helps to relieve fevers, coughs and colds, and digestive problems. Butterfly Weed Also used in Native Indian cuisine, Butterfly Weed is primarily effective in treating respiratory and related lung issues. When ingested in large amounts, it can be used for internal cleansing and pain relief. Direct application to the skin in the form of a poultice can help to reduce swelling or heal wounds. Calendula The bright yellow petals of calendula flowers are most effective when mixed with other substances to create ointments or creams. It can then be used on the skin to heal burns, cuts, and wounds. California Poppy Dont worry when using California Poppies since they are not addictive and do not have any opium in the plant. However, it can be used to help reduce anxiety and insomnia, as well as bladder problems in children and adults. California Poppies can be used along with other natural sources over a longer period of time to help with depression and fatigue. Carnation When separated from the base of the flower (which is bitter), Carnation petals can be brewed to make an excellent tea to reduce anxiety, agitation, stress and fatigue. Moreover, it also has a healing effect on the skin and can bring down swelling. Chrysanthemum Chyrsanthemums are another flower that make a great tea when steeped in hot water. Drinking this tea brings marked relief for those suffering from a fever, headache or common cold. The cooled liquid can also be applied as a compress to soothe tired eyes. Corn Flower These distinctive sky-blue flowers have long been used to deliver relief to medical patients. Corn Flower tea acts as a laxative and also as a mouth cleanser. It is safe to consume the flowers in their raw state. A paste made from corn flowers brings relief to acne and tired or irritated eyes. Dandelion Dandelions are very effective for cleaning the blood and also helping with related issues, such as anemia. In Native American culture, it was also used as a laxative and a tonic of overall wellbeing.

Foxglove Used in moderation, foxgloves have proved to be valuable in curing edema (previously known as dropsy). It is also used as a tea to remedy coughs and colds or as a compress for skin swellings or sores. Gardenia Gardenias feature heavily in Chinese medicine for blood cleansing and disorders, bladder problems, and physical injuries. It also works on a mental level in helping to alleviate depression, stress, anxiety, insomnia and similar disorders. Jasmine Sweet, exotic jasmine flowers do not only make delicious cup of tea, but they also aid in digestive issues, stomach ulcers and ulcers. Sipping this brew before bedtime can help to ward off insomnia and anxiety. Honeysuckle Honeysuckle flowers are safe to eat raw and can be used to create an antibacterial gargle wash for sore throats. Skin rashes or inflammation are also effectively treated by applying a paste made from the flowers. Hyssop Hyssop has been used as far back as Biblical times and is renowned for its potency against sore throats, bronchitis, congested chests, rheumatism and arthritis. It can also be used to improve circulation of the blood. Lilac Lilacs can be steeped to make a tonic that reduces fever and to get rid of internal parasites. Skin burns or wounds are soothed and heal well when a paste or gel made from lilacs is applied. Lotus Lotus flowers are popular in both Eastern and Western cultures for their effectiveness against fever, diarrhea and also more serious illnesses such as cholera and bronchitis. A syrup made from the flower provides much relief for bad coughs. May Apple May Apples are extremely potent (even toxic) and should be used very carefully, preferably with the supervision of a professional herbalist. A small amount can be brewed as a tea or tonic to make a powerful laxative and can also bring on vomiting. Morning Glory (PDF) Use caution not to ingest Morning Glory seeds as it could cause strong hallucinatory effects. The flower is used in several cultures as a laxative and general purge. Morning Glory also acts as an emmenagogue to bring on menstruation or labor.

Nasturtium The anti-microbial properties of Nasturtium makes it an effective remedy against colds and flu. It is also useful in treating infections of the lungs, bladder and reproductive organs. Passionflower Passionflower contains medical properties best suited for treating disorders such as insomnia, agitation, anxiety, and epilepsy. It also acts on the nerves to reduce pain and induce a calming sensation. Peony Medicinal use of Peonies dates back to the ancient Chinese civilization. Consuming a tonic made from the flower is helpful as a muscle relaxant in cases such as general muscular pain and cramps and also menstrual discomfort. Plum Flowers Plum flowers are primarily used in Chinese medicine to free the body from parasites and ulcers. They are also used to boost digestive health. Rose (PDF) Roses contain a good deal of Vitamin C and are very safe for human consumption. The petals can be eaten raw to increase blood circulation, and they also relieve depression. Rose tea acts as a mild laxative. A paste or cream made from the petals does wonders to improve the condition of the skin, especially on the face.