The conundrums of the estimated magnitude of food waste generated in South Africa

Abstract

This paper presents three conundrums that influence the estimation of the magnitude of food waste generated in South Africa. The first conundrum is the lack of standard definition of food waste which includes the inconsistencies and interchangeable use of food waste and food loss. The second conundrum relates to inconsistencies associated with the inclusion and exclusion criterion of inedible portions into food waste, and lack of clarity about the stages in the food supply chain at which food losses are considered food waste. The last conundrum relates to the credibility of sub-Saharan Africa's assumptions and methodological replicability used in the estimation of South Africa's magnitude of food waste generated. This paper highlights the influence of the three conundrums and relationship between qualitative and quantitative measurement of food waste variable by recalculating the food waste generation using the 2007-2009 data. Ultimately, the study results confirm that scientific quantification of variables should be based on clearly defined and validly demarcated qualitative variables to prevent methodological replicability and validity errors, as evident from the three conundrums identified in the South African food waste estimates.