Quantification and analysis of the cost of food wastage in the cafeterias of a large company

Objective The purpose of this study was to quantify and assess the cost of food wastage in eight cafeterias of a big steel mill. Methods Eight cafeterias were followed during five months. Quantification of food wastage was done considering the leftovers and the number of meals planned and served daily. For determining the cost, preparations were divided into groups, and the cost was obtained from the average price of foodstuffs purchased during the month. Results Fifty percent of the cafeterias did not achieve wastage less or equal to 30g (the per capita food wastage goal set by the company). The total per capita food wastage ranged from 24g to 60g, equivalent to 176-1213kg of food wasted monthly. Salads were wasted more often in most foodservices. The monthly cost of food wastage reached 2.2% to 3.0% of the amount spent monthly on food. It represented a high expense for the foodservice (approximately 80-108 minimum wages). The results allowed the proposal of intervention measures such as planning and development of appropriate preparations, identification of customers, and nutrition education actions. Conclusion The cafeterias presented considerable food wastage, hence money loss. Implementation of interventions can minimize these losses. Savings from reducing wasteful spending could be used for improving production processes.