The total volume of food loss in Israel in 2020 was 2.5 million tons, worth 19.1 billion shekels - which is about 615 shekels per month for every household in Israel. This is according to the National Report on Food Loss and Salvage, by the 'Leket Israel' food rescue organization.
According to the report, in 2020 there was a decrease of approximately 50,000 tons in food loss, due to changes in consumption habits during the Corona crisis - an increase in the volume of online purchases, a decrease in the volume of purchases in open markets, and a shift from food consumption in the closed institutional sector to food consumption at home.
Approximately 50% of all food lost - 1.1 million tons, is salvageable food that is fit for consumption.
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Alongside the positive data, it appears that 150,000 people have been added to the cycle of food insecurity due to the pandemic.
Gidi Karuch, CEO of the Leket Israel association, added: "The great advantage of saving food is the ability not only to close the entire food insecurity gap in Israel with a quarter of the budget, but also to optimize and prevent the waste of natural resources and production, help reduce emissions and pollutants, and strengthen the fight against the climate crisis that is plaguing the entire world.".
