Annotated Summary

Othman, L. (2016, October, 24). Reducing food waste: Getting Singaporeans to embrace ‘ugly food’. Retrieved from Channel newsasia: https://www.Channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/reducing-food-waste-getting-singaporeans-to-embrace-ugly-food-7775360

This article shows the seriousness of food wastage in Singapore. In Singapore, out of the 676,800 tonnes of food waste that was generated, only 16% was recycled. This includes the discarding of blemished or oddly-shaped food. It seems that Singaporeans are not keen on buying food which looks not fresh. Food wastage also makes up 7 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, which is a major cause of global warming. To solve this issue, NTU’s sociology professor Md Saiful Islam mentioned that it will require the commitment of retailers and manufacturers. This article suggests ways to reduce food waste while helping those who genuinely need food. Firstly, recognize those needy families who need food (i.e. eating just one meal per day). Secondly, reach out to companies and organizations, including food manufacturers and bakeries with excess stock. Also, the government can play a part by enact legislation like the United States’ Good Samaritan Act. For instance, when a company donates edible food to charities, they will not be liable for anything that happens to those who consume that food. Food waste can be reduced significantly by working together with all the organization and company. Therefore, this will help maximize the reduction of food wastage.