Mothers to blame for food waste

Mothers are blamed for so many of society’s ills, and now we can add food waste to the list!

Researchers from the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, Embrapa and the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil have found that the tendency to associate the provision of food with affection could result in wasted food, wasted money and negative consequences for the environment.

Food waste costs US households US$371 per capita each year. So, after completing an initial study examining predictors of food waste in lower-middle-class families from Brazil, researchers Gustavo Porpino, Brian Wansink and Juracy Parente examined similar income level households in upstate New York to systematically look for common practices that result in American food waste.

They found that mothers often like serving large portions to express affection towards their families, and that those who experienced food insecurity in the past are especially likely to overstock food as a precautionary measure.

Interestingly, when caregivers provide unhealthy food, they also prepare healthy sides to make up for the other ‘junk’. But, because there is more food served, there are typically more leftovers, which often are thrown away. The non-use of leftovers was the most frequent type of food waste identified.

“It’s kind of ironic,” noted Gustavo Porpino, lead author of the study, “caregivers do everything they can to fit the traditional role of a ‘good mother’. They keep the house fully stocked with all kinds of food, provide snacks and treats in between meals, and make sure everyone has more than enough on their plates at the table, but it’s these same behaviours that lead to wasted food, wasted money and even to obesity.”

The findings suggest that initiatives that teach caregivers how to manage food at home can reduce food waste in this population, including positive messages about consuming leftovers and campaigns that emphasise the financial benefits of limiting waste.