According to House Foods Group Inc.'s seventh food waste survey, awareness was nearly 100%, yet food waste occurred in approximately 80% of households. Efforts before purchase were prominent as a countermeasure, while progress in using food up when cooking and ensuring proper storage remained limited.
House Foods Group Inc. conducted an internet survey on efforts to reduce household food waste, receiving 4,617 valid responses. Although awareness reached 99.4%, the survey reported that approximately 80% of respondents had experienced some form of food waste.
The main measures identified were taken before purchase: 63.9% of respondents said they strictly manage expiry dates, while 58.2% said they buy only what they need. By contrast, measures after purchase, such as using food up and storing it properly, were less common and were identified as areas for improvement.
Examples of ingredients recently discarded included cucumber, lettuce, bean sprouts, tofu, milk and bread, indicating which items are particularly prone to household food waste.
Japan's estimated food waste totals approximately 4.61 million tonnes, of which household food waste accounts for 2.24 million tonnes. Further efforts are needed, focusing on reviewing how food is used up and stored.