Waste in the past: a witness
As
many people know, food waste has changed a lot over time. It can be
possible to understand it simply by reading daily newspapers or by
watching news onTV.
As far as experts are concerned there’s
a plenty of websites which gather a lot of details. Thanks to the
interview given by an old lady born during the 2nd
World
War,
we are able to realize how much food waste has changed so far, and
how in the past people used
to face it.
Here’s the interview given by the old lady Italina Bassini, born in October 1940..
How was the waste managed at that time?
In difficult times as those when I lived, people didn’t use to waste unlike nowadays; when some food was left over, it was heated up and reconsumed. I’m saying it for experience, even though my family was one of the most advantaged of the town.
Which was the most wasted food?
During the years after the War, food was poor. Food rations were counted so that there was a good saving and everything was bought just before being consumed. Moreover people didn’t use to keep big supplies of food, this fact was influenced by the absence of fridges. Despite there was not the chance to buy high quality products, my mum succeded in giving us a pasta dish, even though we were 8 people in our family.
Which were the foods you most used to buy?
Most consumed foods were: pasta, rice, bread, polenta, bollito, spezzatino..low cost food but, very good and tasty. When we were children we always looked for something more to eat but my mum used to repeat me that bread was one of the most important and tasty food. I still notice that, when we’re a little bit hungry, a piece of bread is able to feed us enough.
Were deadline dates so important?
No, first of all because they did not exist, and secondly we bought fresh products to consume in one day. When I was young I never noticed deadline dates; anyway, we have grown as well.
People who own poultry, cattles and pigs were luckier.
Could you please give us some advice to help us to use excess products?
Sure! For instance, with left over meat you could do some meatballs, or ham could be added to the omelette and finally dry bread can be grated and utilized for the breading.
Here’s the interview given by the old lady Italina Bassini, born in October 1940..
How was the waste managed at that time?
In difficult times as those when I lived, people didn’t use to waste unlike nowadays; when some food was left over, it was heated up and reconsumed. I’m saying it for experience, even though my family was one of the most advantaged of the town.
Which was the most wasted food?
During the years after the War, food was poor. Food rations were counted so that there was a good saving and everything was bought just before being consumed. Moreover people didn’t use to keep big supplies of food, this fact was influenced by the absence of fridges. Despite there was not the chance to buy high quality products, my mum succeded in giving us a pasta dish, even though we were 8 people in our family.
Which were the foods you most used to buy?
Most consumed foods were: pasta, rice, bread, polenta, bollito, spezzatino..low cost food but, very good and tasty. When we were children we always looked for something more to eat but my mum used to repeat me that bread was one of the most important and tasty food. I still notice that, when we’re a little bit hungry, a piece of bread is able to feed us enough.
Were deadline dates so important?
No, first of all because they did not exist, and secondly we bought fresh products to consume in one day. When I was young I never noticed deadline dates; anyway, we have grown as well.
People who own poultry, cattles and pigs were luckier.
Could you please give us some advice to help us to use excess products?
Sure! For instance, with left over meat you could do some meatballs, or ham could be added to the omelette and finally dry bread can be grated and utilized for the breading.