Food waste in South Africa: a focus on meat and vegetables

This study investigates the prevalence, nature, and causes of food waste among South African households, with a specific focus on meat and fresh vegetables. The study draws exclusively on the analysis of a nationally representative quantitative survey of 3095 households across the nine provinces of South Africa to establish if household food waste exists, and explore its prevalence, drivers, and patterns. Addressing a notable gap in existing literature, this study aims to both contribute to a substantial gap in existing literature and to provide evidence to inform policy by highlighting what influences the problem of household food waste in the country and how it could be solved. The study frames household food waste as a threat to sustainability of food systems whose reduction is a critical hazard-control strategy aligned with the One Food concept, which emphasises saving meals, species, and resources within sustainable food systems.