Waste of Fresh Fruits in Yaoundé, Cameroon: Challenges for Retailers and Impacts on Consumer Health

A.G. Kamda Silapeux, Roger Ponka, Chiara Frazzoli and Elie Fokou
Additional contact information
A.G. Kamda Silapeux: Department of Social Economy and Family Management, HTTTC, University of Buea, P.O. Box 249, Kumba, Cameroon
Roger Ponka: Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Derivated Products, National Advanced School of Engineering of Maroua, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46 Maroua, Cameroon
Chiara Frazzoli: Department of Cardiovascular and endocrine-metabolic diseases, and ageing, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
Elie Fokou: Nutrition, Food Safety and Wholesomeness. Prevention, Education and Research Network, P.O. Box 3743 Yaoundé, Cameroon

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Post-harvest losses contribute significantly to food insecurity and affect the nutritional status and health of populations. This study estimates the waste of fresh fruits in the post-harvest chain and identifies avoidable causes along the food supply chain to extrapolate good practices for the empowerment of retailers. A semi-structured questionnaire and a checklist were used in the administrative units of Yaoundé, Cameroon, from May to June 2017. Fifty fresh fruit retailers were randomly selected. Information, including socioeconomic profile, handling practices, transport, and food wastes, was analyzed. Dominant figure in the fruit market are 34-aged women. Despite significant professional experience, none of retailers received formal training. The perceived main causes of fruit waste were failure to sell, mechanical damage during transport, and storage conditions. Inappropriate packaging materials and poor hygiene were also observed, and about 40–50% of fruits did not reach the consumers’ table. Nutritional education of the general population is crucial in facing the challenge of fresh fruit waste. The analysis of critical points in the post-harvest fresh fruit chain highlights good cost-effective practices. Training and empowerment of retailers represent the main measures to decrease fruit waste, in addition to nutritional training programs for the general population recommending the daily consumption of fruits for healthy life.

Keywords: food waste; retailers; food transport; sustainability; resource conservation; healthy lifestyle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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