Israel Faces Massive Food Waste During High Holidays

As Israelis prepare for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a significant amount of food, estimated at 260,000 tons and valued at approximately 2.5 billion shekels, is expected to be wasted. This projection comes from new data released by Leket Israel and BDO, highlighting a substantial financial and resource loss during the festive period.

The waste translates to a considerable burden on individual households. The average family is expected to spend around 4,100 shekels on food for the holidays, with roughly 850 shekels of that amount representing uneaten food. This means over one in every five shekels spent on holiday food could be discarded.

The primary drivers for this waste are increased hosting, larger purchases, and the tendency to prepare more food than necessary, often stemming from a fear of not having enough for guests. While some leftovers are consumed later, a significant portion ends up in the trash.

Beyond the financial implications, the wasted food represents a considerable squandering of resources. An estimated 41 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 12,500 Olympic swimming pools, are expected to be wasted along with the food. This is particularly concerning given the challenges faced by Israeli agriculture, including heatwaves, fluctuating rainfall, and water restrictions.

Experts suggest that more precise planning of food quantities, aligning purchases with the number of diners, and utilizing leftovers can significantly reduce this waste and save families money. The period of heightened consumption during the High Holidays presents a critical opportunity to address these issues of food and resource management.