Ever felt that gut feeling when your intuition tells you that the situation suddenly went askew because of disposing a piece of food? It might seem peculiar to experience such feeling over some edible material being discarded in the trash. However, once you’re exposed to the bigger picture of what food waste is, it will be easier for one to grasp the significance of how the appearance of a few hamburgers tossed in a garbage bin can drastically affect both society and the environment. After acknowledging this world wide conflict, hopefully many will be able to find clarity in the impact of their detrimental actions.
In the academic journal, “Plastic packaging and the ‘war on food waste,” from Plastics Engineering, they describe the benefits between plastic and food. Most might think that the combination between the two can lead to harmful contributions towards the environment, but Plastics Engineering shed some light onto this controversial topic.
The purpose of this academic journal was to reveal to the audience that there can be pros to plastic packaging on produce and how it can greatly minimize the abundant amount of food being wasted every year. Not only on food waste itself, plastic packaging also provides convenience plus the well-being of the produce as well. It is explained that plastic can minimize foul smells and prevent situations that most households experience, called freezer burn. Plastic packaging can also be used as a barrier between produce and any unhygienic surroundings, leading to consumers believing that the produce is more appetizing. Again, being in some sort of sealed or contained wrapping, leads to higher rates of that certain produce being bought. With more vegetables or fruits stored in plastic packaging, it is one more step towards decreasing this conflict.
The tone that the publisher gives off is assertive and persuasive as they provide the detrimental aftermaths of what food waste can actually lead to. By using words such as “And here’s a scary look at the future…”(Plastics Engineering) as phrases, it leaves an eye-opening impression on the readers. This somewhat puts pressure on the audience to closely pay attention to what the publisher is saying and provides as a hook by using these phrases at the beginning of their sentences. The publisher’s stance was that an astronomically amount of “…more than four out of every ten pounds of the food produced in America for our consumption actually is never consumed.” (Plastics Engineering) could be saved. The publisher does this by providing actual data such as the average mass of food that would be wasted by the average American, including the cost of all that food. One reading this academic journal can be easily influenced based off the publisher’s tone and stance and can become more open minded on the benefits of plastic packaging.
The genre of this academic journal is expository. The publisher presented the topic of food waste from a perspective that most people do not usually think about. The publisher’s use of language of phrases such as “That’s right…” and “Truth be told… (Plastics Engineering)” is used to emphasize how serious food waste really is everywhere in the world. Overall, the publisher wants the reader to know that the creation of some plastic waste better than the copious amount of food waste.
The gravitated audience would be factories and companies that work in packaging food. The publisher mostly focuses on the effects of plastic packaging in the present and how it can be worthwhile in the future rather than the consumers themselves. Plastics Engineering wants it to be known that having more produce being stored in plastic packaging can lead to a fresher appearance and can also improve the shelf life. They pinpoint this concern more than anything of food waste.
In the newspaper article, “Food Waste Fund: 4 Million Awarded to Cut Food Waste,” published by the States News Service, it was reported that four million dollars was provided to different organizations to support the social issue of food waste. The article further explains how this amount of money is actually useful towards techniques that can assist in less food going to waste.
The purpose of this newspaper article was to spread awareness about food waste and how funding provided by the government can positively reform the whole idea of food waste. With millions of dollars awarded to different organizations, specifically redistribution ones, means that this money is going to profitable when excess food is relocated to a place where it can be used instead of disposed. By taking food from manufacturers and retailers that go unused, it can go from one’s trash to another’s treasure. Food becomes wasteful when the produce is perfectly fine and edible. However, when redistributed, it becomes another’s meal instead. This can save both excess food and provide those with food insecurity or in poverty and unable to support themselves.
The tone of the publisher was very persistence on the fact that redistribution companies are one of the key factors to heavily reducing food waste. Their stance was both supportive and encouraging of the fact that starting this project with the funded money can lead to life changing events. As this project “…will achieve long-term environmental benefits; it will help the supply chain to maximize the value of their products, and it will deliver clear and tangible social impact.” (States News Service) By collecting food that is still consumable and delivered to those where food is a necessity is a win-win situation for both businesses that throw out food at the end of the day that goes unsold and those that go to bed hungry.
Being a newspaper article, the genre is informational. However, it was not completely objective even with it being a newspaper article. This article still has some bias towards food waste, with the author being stern on it being negative and considered an issue. From the publisher’s perspective, “Food waste is unnecessary and morally unforgivable. We must end it, and our 15 million fund is a true game-changer in making that happen.” (States News Service) The publisher believes that food waste is an awful act that must be resolved as soon as possible. Although many may agree, there are still many that are open to opposing to the publisher’s claim. Some may think that food waste is better for people as it gets rid of spoiled or even appear as unappealing. There are many types of views that people can see from that one may be incapable of seeing at all.
This is where the targeted audience can fall into the category of those opposing views against the author. This newspaper can possibly change those views where they can convert to the author’s side of supporting food waste prevention. Even “Food businesses interested in redistributing surplus food can contact their local redistribution organisation to see how they can help.” (States News Service) which can be another targeted audience. Food businesses who have always thought that dumping out leftover food that was unable to sell can now change this bad habit into something worthwhile. The publisher wanted to target those with mindsets of helplessness and change them into motivated people that have no problem contribution.
In the magazine article, “Paying the high price of food waste,” Sharon Palmer presents many potential reasons as to what leads to food waste and how they can easily be resolved. As humans, we are usually the culprit behind food waste. Although we were not initially like this, we have slowly progressed to guilt free food wasters.
The purpose of this magazine article was to explain to the audience why we have developed to become food wasters and how we can change our terrible daily habits. Palmer had stated that “We’re not taught to value food. In the past, we hardly wasted any food. During the Great Depression, people had to scrimp to have enough to eat.” (Palmer) The author had used this quote to show how today’s society compared to the past has worsened mentally. Throughout history, people were able to find worth in just a little piece of food since it was something that they rarely had. It is when you are unsure when the next time you will be able to eat is, is when you will be concerned about wasting food. Since food today is so accessible as long as you have some sort of income, this is something we do not worry about.
The tone of the author is very defensive as she has a vexed stance on any person that finds it easy to waste food. Palmer uses words such as “culprit behind food waste” (Palmer) to describe restaurants that provide portions larger than an average customer can finish. This just shows how she holds food wasters such as restaurants and supermarkets accountable for throwing out food almost like criminals. She cannot justify how such small reasons such as poor appearance or overproduction of food exist to lead to high costs that we must pay.
The genre of this magazine article is a reflective piece of writing as Palmer tries to convince the readers to value food a bit more than they do now with occurrences of other people’s opinions. By asking questions such as “Why are we food wasters?” (Palmer), followed by specific quotes from Jonathan Bloom who had spoken out at food associations and expos, it gives the audience a chance to reflect or look back on the initial question. This can affect the reader to ask themselves the same question and wonder if they themselves are food wasters and maybe even why they do this as well. Along with presenting the causes of food waste, the author also had provided solutions on how to reduce food waste such as better planning on just the produce that you need for a short period of time of saving food for the next meal. This is a great technique that forces readers to be more open to trying to minimize food waste because of the presented solutions that can be used in their own personal life.
The audience that Palmer targets are very broad and general. With food waste being a worldwide problem, this can easily be relatable to any person. As a person, you need to eat every single day, giving everyone a chance to save food that would have been thrown away. A more specific audience can be adults that do grocery shopping either every few days or week as supermarkets are one of the many factors that cause food waste. However, this magazine again can be applied to any person.
The report of “UK: Less fish, meat, dairy key to “sustainable” supply – study,” from just-food.com explains the reason behind the reduction of certain food products in the United Kingdom. Not only will this lower the problems of food waste, this will also improve the diet and health of people when reducing this many ingredients.
The purpose of this report was to spread this news of what seems like a small change and describe the effects of what will happen after this change. Although it seems like a minimal thing of getting rid of some soy or fish, it can leave a huge impact on many people’s diet. This includes, increasing one’s health and keeping the environment clean.
The tone of the publisher is genuine as Aroq Limited describes the “…FSA of failing to ‘take sustainability seriously.” (Aroq Limited) Using such words shows the author’s stance of spreading something important and major. The publisher wants the audience to take this report seriously and see how such change can lead to positive things, rather than be seen as just taking away food.
The genre of this report is informational. The publisher reports information on a certain change placed in the United Kingdom. However, the author does not directly use their own words to try to persuade enforcing this change on the audience. Instead, quotes from others are used to prove a point such as from the WWF’s One Planet Food programme to state the pros of cutting down food.
The audience would be those living in the United Kingdom as this new change will most likely be effective on them compared to others living in different areas. Nevertheless, this does not change the fact that others in different countries can take inspiration from this change and may try to enforce it in their own environment if seen productive or more superior compared to current situations in their hometown.
All these sources have the topic of food waste in common. They all also have a similar purpose and either being persuasive or informational as they all had the initial point of convincing or providing knowledge to the audience. Most of these sources have a targeted audience that is wide and general as well, rather than specific. Most likely this is because they would rather have an audience that is considerably larger than be confined to a small-scale, specific audience.
Works Cited:
“Plastic packaging and the ‘war on food waste’.” Plastics Engineering, Oct. 2013, p. 24+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A349607897/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=bd989fb0. Accessed 7 Sept. 2019.
“FOOD WASTE FUND: 4 MILLION AWARDED TO CUT FOOD WASTE.” States News Service, 8 May 2019. Gale Academic Onefile, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A584686495/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=eb264017. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.
Palmer, Sharon. “Paying the high price of food waste.” Environmental Nutrition, Mar. 2010, p. 1+. Gale Academic Onefile, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A220767420/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=c80b2968. Accessed 10 Sept. 2019.
“UK: Less fish, meat, dairy key to ‘sustainable’ supply – study.” just-food.com, 13 Dec. 2009. Gale Academic Onefile, https://link-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/apps/doc/A214325014/AONE?u=cuny_ccny&sid=AONE&xid=f2891b0b. Accessed 12 Sept. 2019.
