Discover the benefits of frozen foods in reducing food waste. Freezing extends shelf life, offers meal flexibility, and reduces spoilage concerns.
Frozen foods can significantly contribute to reducing the amount of food wasted, according to two recent studies from the Cornell University Dyson School of Business and the market research firm 210 Analytics.
“New data show that freezing is an important solution to reduce food waste,” said Alison Bodor, president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), a member-based national trade association with offices in Arlington, Virginia. “Freezing preserves food so families may take advantage of the longer shelf-life made feasible. It is nature’s pause button. Consumers rely on frozen food to offer flexibility in meal planning and a handy approach to limit their food waste, whether they’re consuming frozen fruits and vegetables, pre-portioned meals and appetizers, or other meal ingredients.
Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, reviewed the literature to learn how often frozen food items are thrown away in homes and grocery stores. In general, frozen meals are wasted less than their fresh equivalents at both the retail and consumer levels, according to the analysis of numerous research. Although the rates of food waste vary depending on the type of food, the fruits and vegetables investigated tend to be far less likely to be wasted when they are frozen than when they are fresh. The survey also discovered that leftovers or concerns about spoilage were the main reasons why meals kept in the refrigerator were frequently thrown out. By extending product shelf lives and letting households prepare only what they need, freezing food can assist families overcome these difficulties.
Meanwhile, 83% of respondents agreed that purchasing frozen food is a good way to reduce the amount of food waste in their households in a survey conducted by San Antonio-based 210 Analytics of more than 1,500 U.S. consumers. The survey examined concerns, attitudes, and behavior related to food waste and the value of purchasing frozen products or freezing food at home. 79% of consumers responded that being able to prepare precisely the right amount of food from frozen is a purchasing motivator. Consumers generally highlighted that they benefit from being able to prepare what they need. In addition, respondents highlighted that using frozen components increased meal flexibility. Nine in ten users of frozen food concur that using frozen food enables them to have a backup plan without worrying about spoilage.
Many consumers are aware of the financial impact of food waste in addition to the environmental impact. 86% of households qualified for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) stated that they could not afford to waste food and that frozen meals enable them to do so by allowing them to consume the items over an extended period of time.
Bodor continued, “Reducing food waste is good for the world and your budget, too. “With the preservation provided by freezing, consumers can avoid at-home food ingredient degradation and still make last-minute meal plan adjustments. The freezer is your buddy when you want to reduce food waste, according to this new statistics.
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