Resumo

MARTINS, Margarida Liz; VEIGA, Maria João  e  ROCHA, Ada. FOOD WASTE OF A HOMELESS POPULATION: A CASE STUDY. Acta Port Nutr [online]. 2021, n.24, pp.50-54.  Epub 15-Jun-2021. ISSN 2183-5985.  https://doi.org/10.21011/apn.2021.2410.

Food waste has been the focus of particular attention in the last few years and its dimension has raised concern of governments and civil society in general. This study was conducted in a Social Institution which supports the homeless in the city of Porto. The aim of this study was to quantify the food waste and identify its causes.

Food waste evaluation was performed during 21 days, including lunch and dinner meals for a total of 60 individuals. Aggregated weighing method was used for evaluate food waste. The amount of food prepared was weighed, as well as, food prepared but not served (leftovers) and food remaining after meals consumption (plate waste).

For dish, it was found a mean value of 17.5% for leftovers and 18.9% for plate waste. Regarding soup, it was observed 10.5% for leftovers and 13.1% for plate waste.

Despite the differences were not statistically significant (p>0.05), in the dishes whose cooking methods were stuffed and/or boiled, there were higher percentages of leftovers than in baked and fried dishes. Menu influenced food waste, proving by no leftover for some menus.

The number of missing users influenced (p<0.05) the percentage of the leftovers.

Food waste values observed implies a food service classification as "bad". The menu and the number of missing users determined food waste at this Institution.

Palavras-chave : Food waste; Leftovers; Homeless; Plate waste.

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