It seems that the traditional ‘Karaikudi serving’ has found more acceptance as an effective means to reduce food wastage. At an event here on Wednesday to mark the World Environment Day, the theme for which this year is “Think. Eat. Save”, Puducherry Environment Minister T Thiagarajan suggested the “Karaikudi serving” to avoid the wastage at feasts in various events like marriages.
Addressing a gathering, he said the traditional method of serving involved spreading out multiple items of food on a plantain leaf. The subsequent helpings would be strictly based on what the invitee likes. This would avoid wastage as different people would choose different items according to their palate, he said.
The minister also commended the distribution of saplings instead of coconut in a recent function and said that such practices would ensure more green cover and protect environment.
Dr S Sundaravadivelu, Special Secretary to Government, said one day’s wastage in European countries could feed 20 crore starving people across the globe. It is estimated that a third of global food production is either wasted of lost.