Food Waste Management: Exploratory Study of Egyptians chefs

Abstract

Food waste has recently become one of the most common problems facing the hospitality sector. Food waste in the kitchen represents the largest waste stream in a full-service hotel and approximately four to ten percent of food purchased by restaurants becomes kitchen loss, both edible and inedible. It is, however, food waste in the hospitality sector that has been excluded from attention. This study provides critical literature of kitchen food waste according to chefs' viewpoint in Alexandria Governorate-Egypt hotels. The study aims to evaluate practices implemented in kitchens; moreover, increase awareness among kitchen staff with the dangers of excessive food waste. The study also discusses the application of smart food waste management systems in kitchens and finally, recommends some effective practices for effect food waste reduction. In order to achieve these objectives, 300 questionnaire forms are distributed separately and by mail to professional kitchen staff in all types of hotels. The returned and valid forms were (253) forms with a percentage rate (84.3%). Data were described using mean, standard deviation, Pearson coefficient correlation, Spearman coefficient. The study highlights the lack of awareness among kitchen staff towards food waste issues, due to which management actions were taken by the managers.