FoodEducators Food Waste Quiz

Which section of the refrigerator is the warmest?

• Door

• Bottom drawers

• Top shelf

• Freezer

Answer explanation

The door is the warmest part of the fridge and the most prone to temperatures changes, so it’s the best place to store products with a long shelf life like sauces (mayonnaise, mustard, etc) and bottled drinks.

When the “Best Before” Date on a Food Package Has Expired, You Should Throw the Product Away

• True

• False

Answer explanation

“Best before” date refers to the quality of foods: it means that the food is still safe to eat past that date, but the taste or texture may be slightly different.

“Use by” date refers to the safety of foods: it means that the food may no longer be safe to eat past that date, even if it looks or smells fine.

Where Does the Largest Proportion of Food Waste Come from Worldwide?

• Restaurants

• Households

• Grocery stores

• Farms

Answer explanation

On average, each person wastes between 76 and 91 kilogram of food per year – an equivalent of 1000 portions of cooked pasta in just a year! Most food waste comes from households (60%), followed by restaurants (28%) and supermarkets (12%).

How can we buy smarter and avoid food waste?

• Buy loose fruits & vegetables rather than pre-packaged

• Write a shopping list and stick to it

• Ignore deals on products that lead us to buy more than we need

• All of the above

Answer explanation

All of the above.

Around 1.05 billion tonnes of food produced worldwide is wasted each year and most of it comes from households. We can all help reduce this problem by being careful with what we buy and how we use it.

What Is the Safest Way to Defrost Meat and Fish?

• In the original packaging outside the fridge

• On a tray in the fridge

• Under cold running water

• Under warm running water

Answer explanation

Freezing prevents harmful bacteria from growing and helps us to store foods for long periods. But low temperatures only inactivate bacteria, which will reproduce if exposed to warmer temperatures again, so make make sure to defrost foods safely.

How Long Can Cooked Potatoes and other Vegetables Keep in the Fridge (if Temperature < 5 °C)?

• Up to 8 days

• Up to 6 days

• Up to 3 days

• Up to 1 day

Answer explanation

Different cooked foods last different times in the fridge. While cooked beef or chicken can be stored between 3 and 5 days, it is better to eat your pasta within 2 days and cooked potatoes and veggies with 3-4 days.

Fruits and Vegetables Ripen Quicker if Stored Together with Bananas

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Bananas produce ethylene, a natural compound that makes fruits and vegetables ripen quicker. That’s why storing bananas together with ripe produces will make them spoil faster.

Which Vegetable Should Be Stored in the Refrigerator?

• Garlic

• Potato

• Onion

• None of them

Answer explanation

Unlike most vegetables – which should be stored in the fridge – garlic, potato, onion and other squash and root vegetables should be stored in a cool dark space (such as a cupboard or root cellar) to avoid sprouting.

Which Food Cannot be Eaten?

• 
• 
• 
• 

Answer explanation

Apple seeds, as well as the seeds of pears, apricots, peaches, plums, and cherries, contain amygdalin which our bodies convert to cyanide after eating. In high amounts, cyanide can be harmful to health, which is why is better to avoid eating apple seeds.

What is the Best Way to Store Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Parsley, etc.)?

• In the sealed plastic bag in which they were purchased

• Washed and dried, wrapped in a damp towel in the refrigerator

• In an open and ventilated container on the counter

• Inside a cupboard protected from the light

Answer explanation

After washing and drying the leafy greens, they should be wrapped in a damp towel and stored in the refrigerator. The damp towel will help preserve the right levels of humidity which will help them last longer.