Alarming Food Waste and Poor Diets Highlight Growing Nutrition Challenge in Sri Lanka
April 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is grappling with a troubling paradox, as significant volumes of food are discarded each year while many households continue to struggle with poor nutrition.
Official figures indicate that nearly a fifth of the country’s vegetable harvest—amounting to over 220,000 metric tonnes—is lost annually, alongside more than one-fifth of fruit production, estimated at around 290,000 metric tonnes.
Experts attribute these losses largely to inefficiencies across the supply chain, including outdated harvesting practices, inadequate transport, mishandling, and limited access to proper cold storage facilities.
Professor K.K.D.S. Ranaweera of the University of Sri Jayawardenapura explained that these gaps not only drive up food prices but also place unnecessary strain on national resources. He also pointed out that food wastage is not confined to farms and markets; institutions contribute significantly as well.
For instance, a single hospital can generate between one and four metric tonnes of food waste each day, reflecting broader systemic inefficiencies.
At the household level, the situation is equally concerning. Urban families are believed to discard food worth more than Rs. 1,000 each week, with tens of kilograms thrown away due to over-purchasing, poor meal planning, and changing consumption habits.
Meanwhile, nutrition experts warn that improvements in food availability have not translated into healthier diets. Senior Professor Renuka Silva of Wayamba University noted that although many people now have access to sufficient quantities of food, the nutritional value of what they consume often falls short.
He observed that economic pressures in recent years—including the pandemic, financial instability, and adverse weather events—have pushed families towards cheaper, less nutritious options. As a result, consumption of protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, and eggs has declined, particularly affecting children and older adults.
Changing lifestyles are also playing a role. Busy routines, rising living costs, and the convenience of processed foods have led to an increased reliance on inexpensive snacks and ready-made meals. Additionally, the influence of advertising and social media has shaped the eating habits of younger generations, steering them away from balanced diets.
Health specialists emphasise that sustained public education campaigns, particularly through mass media and schools, could help reverse these trends. Encouraging better eating habits, they argue, is essential not only to reduce waste but also to curb the rise of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
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