Bread consumption in Tunisia sees a significant increase during the month of Ramadan, inevitably exacerbating the problem of food waste.
Each year, approximately 113,000 tons of bread are thrown away, equivalent to 42 kilograms per household, according to Chokri Ben Rejeb, Director General of the National Institute of Consumption (INC).
He made these remarks on Mosaïque FM. He further clarified that this figure translates to 800 grams of bread wasted per household every week.
Ben Rejeb also noted that food waste accounts for about 5% of Tunisian households’ food expenditures, with bread leading the list at 16%, followed by grain and vegetables.
He added that this phenomenon of waste intensifies particularly during Ramadan and affects not only prepared meals but also other food products.
Milk and dairy products
On another note, Chokri Ben Rejeb revealed that 60% of dairy products collected by centers are sent to centralized facilities, while 35 to 40% are directed to traditional factories, often lacking adequate health standards.
This poses a risk of transmitting animal diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis. He recommended that all factories in this sector adopt milk pasteurization machines, which ensure moderate heat treatment capable of killing harmful germs at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius.
National strategy against food waste
A national strategy to combat food waste will be launched by September 2025, initiated by the National Institute of Consumption (INC) in collaboration with relevant ministries (Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry).
This strategy will focus on raising awareness about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food waste, involving all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, civil society, etc.) in the fight against this phenomenon, integrating food waste prevention into educational programs, and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework.
The strategy will be accompanied by an action plan outlining the responsibilities of each party, as detailed during an event organized in Tunis by the INC in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
It is worth noting that food waste among Tunisian households amounted to 5% of food expenditures, reaching 910 million dinars in 2021 alone.
The main wasted foods are bread (16% of consumed quantities), grain products (10%), and vegetables (7%).
Food waste is a major challenge globally, as well as nationally, particularly in Tunisia, where significant amounts of food are lost or wasted at every stage of the food value chain.
Additionally, Tunisia ranks first in food waste in the Maghreb region and second in the Arab world, with a rate of 172 kg of food wasted per person annually, according to the 2024 Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Program.
