The data was analyzed to examine food consumptions and waste patterns across different demographic groups and the findings confirm the presence of food wastage. The results are used as a basis for further research on demand-side food security policy options.

Many of these countries are predicted to run into a serious food security crisis in the near future

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Food security is often tackled as a supply-side issue

The major landfill sites operated by municipality for solid waste disposal are Jleeb AI Shuyoukh, Sulaibiyah and Al-Qurain. The Qurain landfill, with area of 1 sq. km, was used for dumping of municipal solid waste and construction materials from 1975 until 1985 with total volume of dumped waste being 5 million m3.

Most of the landfill sites have been forced to close, much before achieving their capacities, because of improper disposal methods and concerns related to public health and environment. Due to fast-paced industrial development and urban expansion, some of the landfills are located on the edges of residential, as is the case of Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Al-Qurain sites, endangering the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Each year more than 2 million tons of solid waste is generated in the tiny Arab nation. High standards of living and rapid economic growth has been a major factor behind very high per capita waste generation of 1.4 to 1.5 kg per day.

Food waste is a global problem. The EU Commission also sensed the importance of this issue and began serious talks at the international level. It aims to issue a European legislation to impose strict laws on supermarkets with regards to throwing away food and give it to the poor and homeless instead

It is unfortunate that the Muslim world is disregarding the fact that this wasteful spending does not serve any country or people. It means an increase in health problems such as obesity as well as deadly diseases and environmental and financial problems.

Food waste is a common bad behavior and needs media attention. The US wastes food worth approximately $162 billion – or about 60 million tons of food per year. The cost of landfilling food costs the US government about $1.5 billion a year. The UAE wastes about 3.27 million tons of food annually. These figures must be a warning call for decision-makers and activists, demanding an end to wastage.