article · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems
A survey of 442 households in Kenitra, Morocco, investigated household food waste patterns across various income levels and dietary categories. The findings revealed that household income levels and the proportion of income spent on food do not significantly correlate with the amount of food wasted across categories such as fruits, vegetables, dairy, bread, and proteins. Instead, cultural norms, daily habits, and food infrastructure play a more influential role. Bread was identified as the most frequently discarded food item due to its perishability and cultural importance, whereas protein-rich items like meat and fish experienced lower waste levels because of their perceived value and cold storage demands. Addressing these habits across middle-income North African settings requires comprehensive approaches, including targeted public awareness programmes, improved food storage infrastructure, and policy measures aimed at encouraging sustainable consumption and waste reduction.
Food waste creates significant environmental, agricultural, and economic burdens. By showing that waste is driven by behavioural and cultural norms rather than income, this research guides municipal planners and policymakers toward targeted community campaigns and infrastructure improvements. These findings provide a valuable reference model for middle-income countries across North Africa and the wider Mediterranean region seeking to build sustainable food systems.
The findings inform early-stage policy design, public awareness campaigns, and municipal food management strategies rather than commercial products. However, the identified need for improved storage infrastructure points to potential opportunities for developers of domestic or commercial food preservation and storage solutions. The research is purely observational, meaning any commercial or technical applications remain at an early concept stage requiring further practical development by infrastructure providers and local authorities.
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Food waste is a pressing global challenge with profound agricultural, environmental, and economic consequences. This study investigates household food waste in Morocco, analyzing the interplay between socio-economic status, dietary habits, and food expenditure patterns across income groups. A cross-sectional survey involving 442 households was conducted to assess waste behaviors across key food categories, including fruits, vegetables, bread, protein sources, and dairy products. Findings indicate no statistically significant correlation between household income levels and food waste across all categories ( p > 0.05), suggesting that food waste is influenced by factors beyond economic constraints. Similarly, the proportion of income allocated to food was not a strong predictor of waste, underscoring the role of cultural norms, behavioral patterns, and food infrastructure in shaping disposal habits. Bread emerged as the most discarded item, likely due to its perishability and cultural prominence in Moroccan households, whereas protein-rich foods such as meat and fish exhibited lower waste levels due to their perceived value and storage requirements. These results highlight the necessity for multi-faceted interventions, including food waste awareness campaigns, improved storage infrastructure, and policy measures that encourage sustainable consumption and efficient food management. The Moroccan case—particularly the Kenitra region—offers a representative model for middle-income North African countries facing similar socio-economic conditions. The insights derived from this study can inform broader policy strategies across the Mediterranean basin and other MENA countries where food waste reduction and dietary transition are key sustainability challenges.
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DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2026.1902797
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