Finally, the world is obsessed with something other than President Bush, Osama Bin Laden, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Iraq or Iran. In one year, prices of rice have escalated by 74 per cent, wheat by 130 per cent, soya by 87 per cent and dairy products by 70 per cent.
Tackling the food crisis
With food rioting across countries, it is time to look at our food stocks, rather than stockpiles of weapons. Here are several points on how to save food.
1. Cut a meal once a week:
If two billion people in the world skip a meal weekly, we feed two billion hungry people with the food that is distributed. If we sleep hungry we understand how people feel when they sleep hungry.
2. Cut parties:
It is chic for companies and individuals to throw parties at the drop of a hat, at homes or in five star hotels. Much food gets wasted at these parties. If we reduce those parties by 50 per cent we can save a lot of food.
3. Store leftover food:
There is always some dinner left over. Normally, it is thrown away. At least 10 per cent of the food in many households is wasted daily. Instead, families should start storing any food that isn't eaten.
4. Order less at restaurants:
We tend to over-order at restaurants, as hosts do not want to appear stingy. Instead of doing that, simply order another serving once the dish is finished.
5. Avoid stocking:
When the international media is warning of food shortages, people have a tendency to over stock on basic foods. If six billion people do this, the grains in the world could exhaust in a few months.
6. Start dieting:
Many of us are over-weight. Doctors have charts, recommending the weight according to height and age. This is the time to decrease calories and start losing excess weight.
7. Improve storage conditions:
About 15 to 20 per cent of food grains rot due to poor storage and transportation. In the UK, 30 to 40 per cent of all food is never eaten. The current food crisis should trigger improvements in logistics and storage of food items.
8. Restaurant leftover food:
Every day many restaurants dump good food, which cannot be stored. This could be given to orphanages.
These actions will not solve the food crisis. Nor will they provide food to all the hungry. They are simply common sense ideas. But we need to implement them. Now. We could make a difference.
— The writer is a Gulf News Reader's Club member from Dubai.
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