Protein is the most wasted food group in Brazilian homes, representing almost 40% of the total volume wasted. Beef accounts for around 20% of discarded leftovers, while chicken accounts for another 15%. Rice and beans, the two most consumed foods in Brazilian homes, represent 22% and 16% of the wasted volume, respectively. These figures are taken from a paper written by three researchers at FGV’s Sao Paulo School of Business Administration (FGV EAESP), Carlos Eduardo Lourenço, Cecília Maria Lobo Araújo and Luciana Marques Vieira, together with collaborators, and published in the journal Sustainable Production and Consumption.

The authors applied more than 2,000 questionnaires to 696 people, selected in line with the standard sample of the Brazilian population recorded by the national statistics agency, IBGE, in 2020. These people, part of the consumer database of a smartphone app, recorded all the food they wasted in the surveyed period by taking photos. The surveyed people are mainly responsible for buying and preparing food in their homes, the paper notes.

The participants were asked what factors influence their household’s food consumption. The most popular factor chosen was “availability of food for everyone at the table,” picked by 25% of respondents. This concern with providing enough food may influence the amount of food prepared and lead to waste, the authors say. “Flavor” is the second priority, selected by 22% of respondents. Combined with the 10% of people who prioritize a “freshly prepared meal,” it is possible to associate food consumption with pleasure and the desire for certain tastes, the article points out. “Avoiding waste” came third, prioritized by 15% of respondents.

The researchers write that the wasted food groups are consistent with those most consumed by Brazilians, corroborating previous studies. The results are also in line with findings from European countries such as Sweden, where bread is one of the foods most present in the population’s diet and also the most wasted. In Brazil, the authors warn that the large amount of meat thrown away is also an environmental problem, in view of the major impacts caused by its production.

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