Latest news with #OzHarvest
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Vague food labelling is well past its use-by date
This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob. This is a sample of The Echidna newsletter sent out each weekday morning. To sign up for FREE, go to Stuffed with lemon and herbs and roasted slowly, the chicken was melt-in-the-mouth perfect. As it cooked on this cold winter evening it filled the house with the most comforting aroma. The roasted potatoes were a triumph, too. Parboiled first - three minutes, not a second longer - they came out of the oven crisp on the outside, creamy within. And the broccoli, just lightly blanched, was a winning accompaniment with just the right crunch. Not a scrap of potato or broccoli was left. The rest of the chicken, denuded of legs, thighs and wings, was duly wrapped and refrigerated for its encore as sandwich filling, pasta sauce and, if time permits, some stock, frozen in an ice cube tray for later use. All that made it to the bin were the bones and the plastic the bird came in. If only all meals were like this. Not just for the eating but for the reduction of waste. Australians are estimated to waste about 7.6 million tonnes of food each year. Of this, some 2.5 million tonnes is generated by households. For each Australian, that's 312 kilograms of food that ends up in landfill, where it rots and contributes for global emissions. As you can imagine in a country with a dysfunctional relationship with food (where else is cheese aerosolised?) the problem is supersized. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the emissions from food waste in the US are the equivalent of 42 coal-fired power stations. The agency says the amount of water and energy used to produce the food that's chucked each year is enough to supply more than 50 million homes. We can't do anything about America's profligacy when it comes to food, but we do have the power to change our habits. The most obvious is embracing leftovers. It's been encouraging in recent weeks to see a TV campaign championing the leftover lunch. Not only is it a money saver but the ricotta and spinach agnolotti somehow always tastes better reheated the next day. Supermarkets need to play the game as well. They should start by being honest with those use-by and best-before dates they stamp on their prepackaged foods. The use-by dates are mandatory and food - mainly meat and dairy - shouldn't be eaten and cannot be sold after them. The best-before dates are where the confusion arises. Food can be eaten after them. Yet, too often, products that have exceeded their best-by date but are still absolutely edible are binned with every pantry cull. A 2019 food waste report found that only 51 per cent of household "food managers" understood the difference between the two labels. Which means half of Australia's households are probably throwing out perfectly good canned food, sauces, biscuits and chocolate. And that's contributing to an annual food waste bill per household of around $2700. OzHarvest estimates about 70 per cent of the food we bin each year is perfectly edible. That's bad enough with families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis. It's even harder to stomach when every day we're assailed with images of what real hunger looks like in Gaza, in Sudan. A lat- arriving comment from Echidna reader Olivia, in response to last week's story about the demise of the corner store and deli, resonates with today's topic. She wrote about life as a single girl in 1980, of coming home to Paddington via the corner store to grab supplies: "Two spuds, a lamb chop, and some greens, that'll do. One day at a time, one meal at a time." Rereading it, thoughts turn to tonight's meal. Leftover chicken shredded and tossed through steaming farfalle with onion, garlic and baby spinach the packet tells me was best before last Thursday but I know will do just fine. HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you ever stop to think how much food is wasted? Should "use-by" and "best before" labelling on food be clearer? Do you save leftovers for meals later in the week? Email us: echidna@ SHARE THE LOVE: If you enjoy The Echidna, forward it to a friend so they can sign up, too. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: - Israeli forces stopped a Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists early Monday and diverted it to Israel, enforcing a longstanding blockade of the Palestinian territory that has been tightened during the war with Hamas. - Network 10's long-running panel show The Project has been axed due to declining ratings. - Former prime minister Scott Morrison has been congratulated after receiving Australia's highest civilian honour, but there is at least one call for him to decline the gong. THEY SAID IT: "If you're going to America, bring your own food." - Fran Lebowitz YOU SAID IT: They want to talk trade but when world leaders get their audience with Donald Trump they're reduced to being extras in his trashy reality show. "I will have to borrow 'a loose arrangement with the plot'," writes Kerry. "Today's newsletter was just brilliant. Loved it. Thank you." Murray says two things were inevitable: "First, Donald Trump and Elon Musk were going to come to blows. Two hugely powerful narcissists were only going to stay best buddies for so long. Second, the left were going to be almost orgasmic with glee over it." Bill writes: "Albo is spot on: meet Trump anywhere but the farce that is an Oval Office presser, in front of all those simpering cabinet acolytes who depend on Trump for their future. Imagine how our local idiot Dutton would have looked defending Australian meat farmers. On second thought, send Littleproud and watch him get eaten for breakfast." "I suggest all national leaders join my new MAGA movement: Make America Go Away," writes Rob.
West Australian
06-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Ponant & OzHarvest alliance is food for thought
Luxury small-ship cruise line Ponant Explorations has teamed with a leading food rescue group to support actions against food waste and deliver education programs on sustainability. Ponant's three-year partnership with OzHarvest involves financial, in-kind and hands-on support for the charitable group's northern Australia team in its work getting good food to those who need it most. Financial contributions will also go towards schools outreach in the Northern Territory over three years, including professional development training for teachers. Deb Corbett, CEO of Ponant Explorations Group for Asia-Pacific, says the partnership aligns with the France-founded expedition line's ethos built around giving back to the regions they visit. 'Working with local communities around the globe has been at the core of our vision since our beginning . . . It is only natural we give back as an acknowledgement of their contribution to the humbling experiences we deliver at sea, all around the globe. 'We look forward to contributing to OzHarvest's success in creating a sustainable future for many, the same way Ponant Explorations has led the way towards a more sustainable form of tourism. This alignment is an opportunity for our two organisations to make a great impact.' OzHarvest was founded in 2004 by Ronni Kahn, who put in place a practical solution to the huge amounts of food going to waste from her events business. Starting with a single van, the charitable group says it has grown to become Australia's leading food rescue organisation, with a few hundred staff and more than 3000 volunteers. Ronni says: 'Operating out of Darwin, we rescue and deliver 350kg of essential food hampers each week and run a pop-up store in the Jabiru community, ensuring remote communities have access to fresh, nutritious food close to home.' OzHarvest's striking yellow vans save about 250 tonnes of good food every week from donors, and deliver direct to 1500 food charities. Its goal is to halve Australia's food waste by 2030. Ponant's funding will also support OzHarvest's nutritional and educational development program, FEAST, reaching more than 4400 students in 74 schools. 'Over 10 weeks, students dive into the issue of food waste and its environmental impact, learn about healthy eating, and get hands-on in the kitchen . . . helping young people understand the true value of food and develop practical life skills to become future change makers,' Ronni says. Ponant has sailed in the Kimberley and other parts of northern Australia for more than a decade, limiting guest capacity of its small ships to about 200 people per voyage for low-impact exploration by sea. There are cabins still available on a wide choice of Ponant's 2025 Kimberley voyages. Two of its small ships — Le Jacques Cartier and Le Soleal — will sail the 10-night Australia's Iconic Kimberley itinerary between Broome and Darwin from early June 2025.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- General
- Forbes
We've Raised Awareness About Food Waste. It's Time For Action.
After preparing a meal, an eater makes compost from the food scraps. Over the years, the conversations we've been having about food waste have changed. At first, it was an effort to raise awareness that food waste was actually happening and worth addressing! And organizations across the food system have been very active in measuring the scale of food waste—because having that data is a crucial step toward solving these challenges. Right now, we're in a place where folks who are engaged in the food system probably know that both in the United States and internationally, about one-third of food goes uneaten. And if food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, just behind China and the United States. I think ReFED Executive Director Dana Gunders is right about a lot of things, of course, but I think she's especially spot-on when she says that we've built up a status quo in the food system where discussions about food waste must be a 'standard part of any sustainable food conversation.' At this point, all our discussions about food waste have to include a focus on empowering people to take action—and arming them with the resources to do so! There are more grassroots organizations, startups, and innovators focused on creative food waste solutions than ever before. There are truly no more excuses to ignore food waste! Food rescue organizations, such as Food Recovery Network on college campuses across the U.S. or Oz Harvest in Australia, are recovering surplus food and getting it to those in need. Interested? Here are 20 inspiring organizations doing this work worldwide. Rather than wasting surplus vegetables from farms or fresh cut remnants, Matriark transforms them into healthy, low-sodium vegetable products like pasta sauce and vegetable broth. Interested? These companies are turning would-be food waste into useful upcycled products. If you find you're constantly wasting the same things—coffee grounds, herb stems, a salad mix you forgot about—you can check out the book 'You Can Cook This! Turn the 30 Most Commonly Wasted Foods into 135 Delicious Plant-Based Meals.' Interested? These cookbooks are helping us take action starting with our next meal. Apps in countries around the world help connect us with food waste solutions, too: In France, Magic Fridge allows you to search and share recipes based on what ingredients you have on hand, and in India, Seva Kitchen crowd-sources food distribution by connecting people in real time. Interested? These apps are turning your phone into a food-waste-fighting powerhouse. For consumers like you and me, Mill is a company that develops food recyclers for our homes that compost food scraps. For producers, ColdHubs creates walk-in, 24/7 solar-powered cold stations to extend food shelf life and cut post-harvest losses. When we call our elected officials and encourage them to act on food waste, we can show them the Global Food Donation Policy Atlas, which analyzes policy recommendations in countries around the world to reduce food waste and tackle hunger. When we remind leaders in the private sector that reducing food waste is profitable, we can back up our statements with ReFED's Insights Engine, which offers deep dives into 40+ food waste reduction solutions and the impact they can have. It's not enough anymore just to build awareness about food waste without also giving people the tools they need to fight it. Fighting food waste is food system action. Fighting food waste is climate action. Fighting food waste builds a more nourished, just, equitable world! On April 1, Food Tank is co-hosting an evening event in collaboration with Compass Group, NYU Steinhardt, and Mill to celebrate Stop Food Waste Day in New York City. We'll convene food systems experts, local food-waste warriors, Broadway performers, youth spoken word poets, surprise celebrity guests, and more, all with a focus on celebrating the ways we can all take action. Speakers include (in alphabetical order): Jennifer Berg, NYU Steinhardt; Chris Ivens-Brown, Compass Group; Natasha Bernstein Bunzl, NYU Steinhardt; Andrew Fisher Jr., 10 Year-Old Youth Poet; Harrison Herz, NYU Steinhardt; Tony Hillery, Harlem Grown; Sam Kass, Investor, Chef, Policy Advisor; Amy Keister, Compass Group; Robert Lee, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine; Priyanka Naik, Celebrity Chef and Cookbook Author; Jennifer Noble, Broadway Actor; Prahlada Rastogi, 10 Year-Old Youth Poet; Merrill Schaefer, 13 Year-Old Youth Poet; Harry Tannenbaum, Mill; and more to be announced. Stop Food Waste Day, an international movement, is the largest single day of action in the fight against global food waste.
