V.MFS.0456 - Consumer Refrigerator data, behaviour & waste reduction
Meat is one of the main food items wasted in Australia with 140,300 tons wasted each year. One third of food waste is attributed to households, presenting an opportunity to understand how to reduce it.
| Project start date: | 24 June 2021 |
| Project end date: | 29 November 2023 |
| Publication date: | 17 April 2024 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle, Grass-fed Cattle, Sheep, Goat, Lamb, Grass-fed Beef |
| Relevant regions: | National |
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Download Report
(2.1 MB)
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Summary
Household meat waste has been attributed to refrigerator performance or household practices. Few studies have looked at how refrigerator performance and household practices interact to contribute to meat waste. This pilot, mixed-method project aimed to provide updated data on the temperature profiles of Australian fridges and develop an interdisciplinary methodology to understand householder practices related to red meat purchasing, cold storage, consumption, and wastage to determine how meat waste occurs and could be reduced.
Objectives
The objectives of the project were to:
- produce updated baseline temperature data of household refrigerators for use by industry
- provide an evidence base on consumer practices involving meat consumption, storage and waste in connection with refrigerator use in homes.
Key findings
Qualitative evidence base was produced that provides detailed and varied ways in which meat is consumed and wasted in households, as well as connections to refrigerators and freezers and the role of these devices in meat waste.
Benefits to industry
Retailers will benefit from the findings that provide an evidence base of consumer practices. These findings may lead to changes in industry practices through the creation of greater certainty about shelf life, thereby decreasing the marking down discard of products in store. Consumers will also have greater surety that the product they are consuming is still fresh, reducing wastage and contributing to health and wellbeing.
MLA action
Publishing of the final report on the MLA R&D website.
Future research
No further research required.
No alignment with consumer-based management of meat at home.
More information
| Project manager: | Alicia Waddington |
| Contact email: | reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | Fight Food Waste Limited |
