Quantifying and describing production waste in two urban healthcare centres with differing foodservice models

To quantify, describe, and compare production waste and food packaging waste in two healthcare centres with different foodservice models.

In this observational study, all food wasted during production and all food packaging was measured by weight and cost over a 7-day period for two hospitals: Hospital A (800 beds, cook-on demand fresh, a la carte menu room service model) and Hospital B (60 beds, traditional cook chill retherm model with weekly cyclical menu and set meal times). Comparisons between sites were made per patient overnight bed day, as an indicator of hospital activity. The average daily waste was calculated, and costed by multiplying cost (AU$) food item/ kilogram by measured weight; to derive the cost of food waste per kilogram. Food waste by weight and cost per overnight bed day was used as a measure to compare the hospitals.

Over 7 days, Hospital A wasted 916.4 kg (AU$6937.22) and Hospital B wasted 69.7 kg (AU$417.10) of food. Most food wasted at both hospitals was edible (78.6% Hospital A and 93.5% Hospital B) and trayline contributed more food waste than bulk production. At both hospitals, plant-based foods comprised the greatest proportion of edible food waste by weight, but not by cost. When accounting for hospital activity, food waste was lower at Hospital A than at Hospital B (0.15 kg of food per overnight bed day and 0.30 kg, respectively). Hospital A generated 199.5 kg (0.03 kg per overnight bed day) of packaging waste compared to 32.2 kg (0.14 kg per overnight bed day) at Hospital B.

Findings suggest that food waste is costly, that food waste differs between hospitals with different foodservice models, and that overnight bed days is a useful metric for making comparisons. A cook-fresh, on-demand room service foodservice model resulted in less food and packaging waste.