Abstract:
interventions to mitigate the environmental, social, and economic impacts of food waste. However, the absence
of a standardized protocol for Food Waste (FdW) quantification remains a key obstacle in formulating and
evaluating effective minimization strategies. This study utilizes Bland-Altman plots and regression analysis to
evaluate the agreement between Self-Reported Food Waste (SRFW) and Direct Weighing Food Waste (DWFW) in a
sample of 402 randomly selected households in Chamwino District, Tanzania. It also investigates the socioeconomic
factors influencing disparities between these measurement methods, providing valuable insights into
the drivers of these discrepancies. The findings reveal a bias of 0.100067 Kilogram (kg), indicating that SRFW
measurements significantly underestimate household FdW. On average, respondents report edible FdW of
0.032703 kg through SRFW, while DWFW measures 0.132769 kg. Furthermore, gender, age, marital status, house
ownership, awareness, and price and cost sensitivity are identified as significant factors influencing the bias
between the two methods. The study concludes by advocating for increased awareness creation, the combined
use of SRFW and DWFW methods, and measures to foster household accountability. These recommendations aim
to enhance the accuracy of FdW quantification and support the development of effective waste reduction
strategies.
