UN: About 733 million people struggle with hunger globally

At present, nearly 733 million people around the world are suffering from hunger, the United Nations reported.

According to the data, more than one billion portions of edible food are discarded every day. This amount of food would be sufficient to feed every hungry person at least once a day.

It was revealed that 13.2 percent of food produced globally is lost before it reaches retail markets, while another 19 percent, equivalent to 1.05 billion tons, is wasted at the household, food service, and retail levels. Such losses and waste are driving up food prices. In addition, discarded food generates greenhouse gases in landfills, further accelerating climate change.

’’Reducing food waste and loss can deliver triple benefits: improving food security and nutrition, providing economic gains for producers, businesses, and consumers, and lessening the impact on the environment and climate, while preserving biodiversity and reducing pollution,’’ the report stated.

Each person can contribute by:

• planning purchases and buying only what is necessary;
• storing products properly to extend their shelf life;
• paying attention to “use by” and “best before” labels;
• preparing food in moderation and saving leftovers (for example, by freezing them);
• donating surplus food to those in need;
• domposting food waste.

It is worth noting that earlier, 130,574.87 kilograms of food products and homemade dishes that lacked guaranteed quality and safety, had expired shelf lives, or failed to meet organoleptic standards were banned from sale and disposed of in accordance with established procedures in Uzbekistan.