Monday 30 March 2026 – 12:58 AM
Shocking international reports on the occasion of the Day for the Elimination of Food Waste revealed a harsh paradox that humanity is experiencing, as one-third of global food production is disposed of with a total of more than one billion tons annually at a time when millions face the specter of famine. Gaza and Sudan top the lists of deadly hunger, while major countries record large numbers of waste. The surprise was the rates of food waste by Egyptians that set world records.
Shocking numbers: Food waste kills millions of children every year
According to Anadolu Agency, the United Nations Food Agency revealed that humanity is throwing about 2.3 billion tons of food in the trash, which represents a major food waste crisis, which is equivalent to a third of the food produced globally. The food waste disaster coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Waste, as the United Nations called on governments and individuals to take urgent action to stop this food waste, especially with the number of hungry people rising to more than 295 million people around the world during the current year, a terrifying increase over last year.
Gaza and Sudan are at the heart of the tragedy, and the specter of famine is claiming lives
According to the Food Agency report, official data showed that the Gaza Strip tops the global famine blacklist, with hundreds of thousands suffering from severe food insecurity, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, and Yemen. Millions also face crushing food crises. The tragedy is not limited to adults, but children are the biggest victim, as 43 million children face extreme hunger. Almost half of the deaths of children under the age of five are linked to undernutrition, in a paradox that makes hearts cry in the face of the global food surplus that is thrown away daily without being used.
Disastrous numbers of waste, and Egypt records record rates per capita
According to Anadolu Agency, on the other side of the food waste map, major countries top the waste lists, with China and India throwing away millions of tons of food annually, while waste in the United States of America is due to excessive consumption, and in the African continent, transportation and storage crises have caused huge losses. The shocking surprise came in the figures for Egypt, where annual waste exceeds 18 million tons at a rate of 155 kilograms per capita, recording one of the highest rates. Food waste per capita worldwide, outperforming major countries such as America and Mexico in terms of per capita waste rates.
It is worth noting that, according to a Washington Post report, the United States of America is accused of intentionally wasting food represented by its government, allegedly to control food exports and domestic and international market prices.
