Kumasi Restaurants Dump $2M Worth of Edible Food Each Year – Study Reveals

While millions around the world go to bed hungry, a new study from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has revealed that restaurants in Kumasi alone waste over $2 million worth of edible food every year.

The research, conducted by the Department of Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, and Extension, uncovered that about 320 metric tons of edible food are discarded annually by local restaurants. This massive waste occurs despite rising food insecurity and global efforts to curb hunger.

Globally, hunger remains a pressing issue. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, 828 million people currently suffer from hunger.

In response, the UN launched Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2), which seeks to end hunger and promote food security by 2030.

The KNUST study, led by Dr. Seth Etuah, surveyed 120 restaurants across Kumasi. It not only quantified the food waste but also explored the waste management practices being used.

These practices included disposal, source reduction, and reuse, with some restaurants donating leftover food for livestock feed.

Despite some efforts to repurpose waste, the volume of discarded edible food remains alarming. The research highlights a critical gap in how food is managed in Ghana’s second-largest city.

To help combat the problem, the study put forward several practical recommendations:

• Track daily food demand: Restaurants are encouraged to maintain accurate records to avoid overproduction and unnecessary waste.
• Encourage takeaways: Customers should be given the option to take home leftover food at a minimal cost, helping reduce the amount of food thrown away.
• Invest in energy alternatives: With frequent power outages in Ghana, food storage is often compromised. Investing in backup power sources like generators or solar panels can help preserve food and reduce spoilage.

The findings from this study have sparked renewed calls for restaurants to rethink their food management systems. Experts say it’s not just about saving money but about addressing a broader issue of global inequality and food insecurity.

If applied widely, these recommendations could drastically reduce food waste in Kumasi and potentially serve as a model for other cities in Ghana and beyond.