What is food waste?

The cold hard fact is we waste around 40 percent of our food supply. This is an astronomical number that contributes to unwanted outcomes ranging from global food insecurity to profit loss for restaurant owners and foodservice operators. Before we tackle food waste, it’s important to understand why it happens and what it causes.

• The Cold Hard Facts About Food Waste
• 3 Reasons Why We Waste Food
• An Update on Food Waste
• An Update on Zero Waste in the Food Service Industry
  
• Green Restaurant Trends to Look For
  
• A Closer Look at Food Safety Trends
  

Common causes of food waste in the foodservice industry

There are quite a few similarities between residential food waste and commercial food waste. Expiration dates, blemishes on produce, and improper storage are all reasons for food waste. In foodservice, the scale of that food spoilage is much greater.

• What is the Ideal Temperature for Commercial Freezers?
• Consistent Refrigerated Temperatures Required for These 10 Foods
• The Top Three Food Trends Impacted by Refrigeration
• The 5 Most Harmful Effects of Freezer Burn in Restaurants

Reducing Costs Through Sustainability

Rising costs are always an issue in the foodservice industry. Whether it be increases caused by supply chain shortages or the current state of inflation, anything restaurants and operators can do to decrease costs will ultimately enhance the bottom line, a number that is already low in terms of profit margin. Let’s explore some ideas to reduce operating costs, including how they relate to food waste.

• Three Ways to Make Your Foodservice Operation More Sustainable
• Using Food Waste To Develop Creative New Dishes
• Five Food Waste Initiatives That Can Increase Profit Potential

Refrigeration Systems for Eliminating Food Waste

One of the most important and fundamental ways to reduce the amount of food we throw away is to make sure our ingredients are properly stored. For foods that require refrigeration or freezers, that means making sure walk-in units and refrigeration compressors are up to par. Let’s review some important ways that commercial refrigeration systems can help reduce food waste.

• 4 Blast Chilling Facts to Consider
• Why Remote Refrigeration Monitoring Makes Life Easier for Operators
• The Importance Of Having A Backup Compressor
• How to Eliminate Frost in Your Walk-In with Eco-Smart
• What Is On-Demand Defrost for Commercial Kitchens?
• A Quick Look at Retrofitting a Commercial Refrigeration System
• Why Redundancy for Commercial Refrigeration Is Important