Determinants of food waste at household level in Punjab Pakistan

Abstract

Food waste indicates a significant threat to the economy the environment and food security. Food waste is one of the most pressing sustainability concerns that need to be addressed. Consumer behavior patterns that contribute to food waste at household level had been observed in Pakistan. In order to prevent food waste at the regional and global levels, it is imperative to identify the causes of food. The goal of the current study was identified and analyzed the determinants of food waste at household levels and suggests recommendations to decrease food waste in households. For this purpose, the data was collected from 200 consumers through a convenience sampling technique using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data was collected through a convenience sampling technique. Logit regression model was used to analyze the data. Identification of food waste determinants is very helpful to optimize operations, minimize losses, and improve profitability. The study found gap between perceptions and practices. Despite awareness and negative perceptions of food waste, actual waste levels were influenced by practical constraints such as storage facilities, Taste, and product appearance. The study findings indicate that taste, food stock waste, left over waste, un appealing texture, over quantity production waste, educational effect, awareness regarding food waste, expiry date, product appearance, nutritional value, overcooked waste all these variables led to increase the food waste at household level. Only brand reputation negatively affects the food waste behavior of the respondents. The findings provide a solid foundation for developing targeted policies and interventions aimed at reducing household food waste. By understanding the determinants, policy makers can create specific strategies to address each factor, such as educational campaigns on food storage, policies encouraging portion control, and community programs promoting the use of leftovers.