Latest news with #NationalInstituteofConsumption
African Manager
13-03-2025
- Health
- African Manager
113,000 tons of bread is thrown away in Tunisia every year!
Bread consumption in Tunisia sees a significant increase during the month of Ramadan, inevitably exacerbating the problem of food waste. Each year, approximately 113,000 tons of bread are thrown away, equivalent to 42 kilograms per household, according to Chokri Ben Rejeb, Director General of the National Institute of Consumption (INC). He made these remarks on Mosaïque FM. He further clarified that this figure translates to 800 grams of bread wasted per household every week. Ben Rejeb also noted that food waste accounts for about 5% of Tunisian households' food expenditures, with bread leading the list at 16%, followed by grain and vegetables. He added that this phenomenon of waste intensifies particularly during Ramadan and affects not only prepared meals but also other food products. Milk and dairy products On another note, Chokri Ben Rejeb revealed that 60% of dairy products collected by centers are sent to centralized facilities, while 35 to 40% are directed to traditional factories, often lacking adequate health standards. This poses a risk of transmitting animal diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis. He recommended that all factories in this sector adopt milk pasteurization machines, which ensure moderate heat treatment capable of killing harmful germs at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius. National strategy against food waste A national strategy to combat food waste will be launched by September 2025, initiated by the National Institute of Consumption (INC) in collaboration with relevant ministries (Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry). This strategy will focus on raising awareness about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food waste, involving all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, civil society, etc.) in the fight against this phenomenon, integrating food waste prevention into educational programs, and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework. The strategy will be accompanied by an action plan outlining the responsibilities of each party, as detailed during an event organized in Tunis by the INC in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is worth noting that food waste among Tunisian households amounted to 5% of food expenditures, reaching 910 million dinars in 2021 alone. The main wasted foods are bread (16% of consumed quantities), grain products (10%), and vegetables (7%). Food waste is a major challenge globally, as well as nationally, particularly in Tunisia, where significant amounts of food are lost or wasted at every stage of the food value chain. Additionally, Tunisia ranks first in food waste in the Maghreb region and second in the Arab world, with a rate of 172 kg of food wasted per person annually, according to the 2024 Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Program.
African Manager
01-03-2025
- Business
- African Manager
A crusade against food waste this year
A national strategy to combat food waste will be implemented by September 2025, announced Mohamed Chokri Rejeb, Director General of the National Institute of Consumption (INC), during an information day on 'Food Waste in Tunisia: Challenges, Solutions, and Collective Actions.' The initiative, led by the INC in collaboration with relevant ministries (Trade, Agriculture, Industry, etc.), aims to address the growing issue of food waste in the country. The strategy will focus on raising awareness about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food waste, engaging all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, civil society, etc.) in the fight against this phenomenon, integrating food waste prevention into educational programs, and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework. An action plan will also be developed to define the responsibilities of each party involved, Rejeb explained during the event, organized in Tunis by the INC in partnership with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to Rejeb, today's event marks the beginning of the strategy's development and aims to gather proposals and recommendations from all stakeholders. Lamia Abroug, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Trade and Export Development, emphasized the importance of this strategy in light of the insufficient results of previous efforts to combat food waste. 'Fighting this phenomenon is no longer a choice but an obligation,' she stated, highlighting the need to change consumption behaviors given the severe impacts of food waste, such as the overexploitation of natural and water resources and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Household food waste accounts for 5% of expenditures Zoubeir Rebah, Director of Studies and Surveys at the INC, revealed that food waste among Tunisian households represents 5% of food expenditures, amounting to 910 million dinars in 2021. The most wasted foods include bread (16% of consumed quantities), grain products (10%), and vegetables (7%). Food waste is a major challenge both globally and nationally, particularly in Tunisia, where significant amounts of food are lost or wasted at every stage of the food value chain. In 2011, the FAO estimated that approximately one-third of the food produced worldwide is lost or wasted. In Tunisia, this issue is exacerbated by unsustainable consumption practices, a lack of awareness about the importance of food resource management, and inefficiencies in the distribution and consumption chain. 66% of food discarded during Ramadan A 2023 study by the Consumer Institute, under the Ministry of Trade, revealed that Tunisian households discard 66% of their food during the month of Ramadan. The most commonly wasted items include bread (46%), fruits (30%), pastries (20%), meat (19%), milk and dairy products (18%), vegetables (14%), beverages (13.4%), and eggs (5%). The study underscores that food waste is a deeply ingrained behavior in Tunisian society, reaching its peak during Ramadan. The national strategy aims to address these challenges through coordinated efforts and collective action, paving the way for a more sustainable and responsible approach to food consumption in Tunisia.
