Identifying factors that promote consumer behaviours causing expired domestic food waste
Open accessAbstract
Many commentators argue that domestic food waste is strongly influenced by consumer behaviours. This article reports on a study using mixed‐methods to identify key factors responsible for promoting consumer behaviours that lead to domestic food waste through the lens of the value–belief–norm theory. On the basis of the study's findings, three factors are proposed that cause behaviours that lead to food waste: supply knowledge – does a consumer know what food they have available; location knowledge – does a consumer know where to locate food items; and food literacy – to what degree do past experience and acquired knowledge impact on a consumer's food consumption and wastage practices. We analyse the study's findings in light of a review of literature about consumer food wastage behaviours and in turn, present new insights into consumer behaviour, food waste and the use of technology to reduce food waste. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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A majority of consumers fail to use storing strategies to increase food longevity in their households.
“Indeed, a majority of consumers fail to use storing strategies to increase food longevity in their households (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014)”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
The Domestic food storage practices section (page unavailable) reports disorganised storage in a number of study households and recommends helping consumers adopt methods to store and preserve food. It does not establish that a majority of consumers fail to use such strategies; that prevalence claim extends beyond the reported findings. (LLM, conf=0.84)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSystematically storing and categorizing food products in combination with periodic re-ordering can lower food waste generation.
“Systematically storing and categorizing food products (e.g.systematic stacking of newer and older foods, or according to frequency of use) in combination with periodic re-ordering can lower food waste generation (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014;Waitt and Phillips, 2016).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
The Domestic food storage practices section says a systematic, categorised approach is likely to reduce food waste, and the Discussion similarly links organised storage to less expired food. The passages do not establish periodic re-ordering or the specific practice of stacking newer and older foods as part of that approach. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCooking with what is found in the fridge requires time, knowledge and cooking skills to better utilise food creatively.
“A barrier to 'food waste cooking' is that cooking with what is found in the fridge requires time, knowledge and cooking skills to better utilise food creatively; also, family members might not like new recipes (Cappellini and Parsons, 2012;Evans, 2012b;Farr-Wharton et al., 2014).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
The Discussion (page unavailable) identifies food literacy as including knowing how to use food creatively when cooking, and Domestic food storage practices (page unavailable) recommends using food in more diverse ways before it expires. These passages support the knowledge and creative-use elements, but do not establish that cooking with fridge contents requires additional time or cooking skills. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredShopping behavior is considered key to reducing food waste.
“Shopping behavior is considered as key to reducing food waste (Farr-Wharton et al. 2014; UNEP 2014; Aschemann-Witzel et al. 2015).”
From COVID-19 virus outbreak lockdown: What impacts on household food wastage? (2020) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al. 2014
Farr-Wharton et al. (2014) and Jörissen et al. (2015) have pointed out the need to provide more information on the shelf life of fresh food and leftovers.
“Farr-Wharton et al. (2014) and Jörissen et al. (2015) have pointed out the need to provide more information on the shelf life of fresh food and leftovers.”
From COVID-19 virus outbreak lockdown: What impacts on household food wastage? (2020) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al. 2014
Information about food items stored at home when shopping is crucial to avoid purchasing unnecessary items.
“Farr-Wharton et al. (2014) stress that information about food items stored at home when shopping is crucial to avoid purchasing unnecessary items.”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Some studies suggest that meal planning results in less food being wasted.
“However, while some studies suggest that meal planning results in less food being wasted (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014;J€ orissen et al., 2015;Mallinson et al., 2016;Quested et al., 2013;Stefan et al., 2013)”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Communication between household members may help avoid buying the same products twice.
“Also, communication between household members may help avoid buying the same products twice (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Food is mainly purchased from major supermarket chains, with some households also purchasing from smaller stores and farmers' markets.
“Various studies highlight that food is mainly purchased from major supermarket chains, with some households also purchasing from smaller stores and farmers' markets (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014;J€ orissen et al., 2015;Parizeau et al., 2015;Yildirim et al., 2016).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Households have problems in assessing the durability of leftovers and therefore tend to be concerned by safety issues when considering them for reuse.
“Households have problems in assessing the durability of leftovers and therefore tend to be concerned by safety issues when considering them for reuse (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
When stored, leftovers are often misplaced, forgotten and/or stored for too long in the fridge and therefore expire more frequently.
“When stored, leftovers are often misplaced, forgotten and/or stored for too long in the fridge and therefore expire more frequently (Blichfeldt et al., 2015;Farr-Wharton et al., 2014;Waitt and Phillips, 2016).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Other applications seek to foster knowledge about food supply and assist users in managing their groceries and planning their meals.
“Other applications seek to foster knowledge about food supply and assist users in managing their groceries and planning their meals (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
Family members might not like new recipes.
“also, family members might not like new recipes (Cappellini and Parsons, 2012;Evans, 2012b;Farr-Wharton et al., 2014).”
From Food waste matters - A systematic review of household food waste practices and their policy implications (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
The Food cooking and consumption practices section reports that household members sometimes lost the desire to eat leftovers, not that they disliked new recipes. The Discussion suggests sharing recipes to help people use food, but does not address family members' reactions to new recipes (searched for that claim and for household recipe preferences). Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.72)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe variability of food wasting habits across the sample suggests that there are varying levels of food skills in these households that may be associated with food waste generation.
“The variability of food wasting habits across our sample also suggests that there are varying levels of food skills in these households that may be associated with food waste generation [e.g., meal planning, shopping, preparing and storing food: (14, 47–51)].”
From Valuing the multiple impacts of household food waste (2019) · cites this paper as [48]
Food storage routines are one of the most significant drivers influencing food waste.
“In addition to the results discussed above relating to shopping and planning practices, food storage routines emerged as one of the most significant drivers influencing food waste.”
From Domestic food practices: A study of food management behaviors and the role of food preparation planning in reducing waste (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al. (2014)
Random and nonsystematic placing of food items results in food becoming easily lost and often expiring before being used, and low visibility of food items in the refrigerator also results in food waste.
“Random and nonsystematic placing of food items resulted in food becoming easily lost and often expiring before being used; in addition, the low visibility of food items in the refrigerator, particularly of those located towards the back, also resulted in food waste.”
From Domestic food practices: A study of food management behaviors and the role of food preparation planning in reducing waste (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al. (2014)
Behaviors in domestic food storage emerged as a key issue in producing domestic food waste.
“Behaviors in domestic food storage emerged as a key issue in producing domestic food waste, which was in line with previous research (Farr-Wharton et al., 2014;Ponis et al., 2017)”
From Domestic food practices: A study of food management behaviors and the role of food preparation planning in reducing waste (2018) · cites this paper as Farr-Wharton et al., 2014
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- Authors
- Farr‐Wharton, G., Foth, M., & Choi, J. H.
- Affiliations
- Queensland University of Technology (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Farr‐Wharton, Geremy
- Venue
- Journal of Consumer Behaviour
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2014-07-07
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 393-402
- ISSN
- 1472-0817 (ISSN-L)
- 1479-1838
- OpenAlex
- W1529424652
- Cited by
- 367
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 44 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 19.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- purl.org
- Locations
- Journal of Consumer Behaviour (publishedVersion)
- QUT ePrints (Queensland University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- RMIT Research Repository (RMIT University Library) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Creative Industries Faculty; Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation
- Funders
- Australian Research Council (LP100100232)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
- Keywords
- consumer behavior, value-belief-norm theory, food literacy, expired food
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