The results of the seventh survey on food waste conducted by House Foods Group showed that awareness of food waste was high at 99.4%, while food waste occurred in approximately 80% of households.
House Foods Group announced the results of its seventh survey on food waste, conducted from 29 June to 6 July 2026. Awareness of food waste stood at 99.4%, but challenges remain in using products fully after purchase and storing them appropriately.
Measures being implemented at home included paying attention to expiration dates, at just over 39%; eliminating leftovers, at approximately 59%; and buying only what is needed, at approximately 58%. Awareness has taken root before purchase, while implementation rates for storage and fully using products after purchase remain low.
Many of the items being discarded are everyday foods, with cucumbers, tofu, milk, bread, lettuce, natto, bean sprouts and cabbage among the most common. It was noted that busy schedules can lead to changes in plans, leaving food unused.
The awareness rate among children was 78.4%, rising to approximately 97% among junior high school students and older. Establishing these practices as part of everyday behavior and promoting food education were identified as future challenges. House Foods published recipe suggestions for using up foods that are easily discarded in curry dishes and also cooperated in No-Peco food education events.
Japan's food waste was estimated at approximately 4.61 million tonnes in fiscal 2024, down 30,000 tonnes from the previous fiscal year. The survey concluded that going forward, it will be important not only to avoid buying too much, but also to devise better ways to cook and store food after purchase.