Food

This page has been automatically translated from French into English by a translation software. Automatic translations are not as accurate as translations made by professional human translators. Nevertheless these pages can help you understand information published by the City of Brussels.

   

These last years, the consumption of food underwent important evolutions. The agriculture became industrialized and our lifestyle became fast and easy: fast food, already washed vegetables, prepared meals,...

In 1960, a grocer's shop proposed 2000 different products. Today a supermarket proposes more than 15 000! Among these lots of food comes from another continent (beans of Kenya, apples of New Zealand)...

These evolutions meant a considerable increase of the pressure on the environment. Not only the modes of production used (greenhouses, extensive breedings), but also the transport of food and their packaging consume a great deal of energy and imply the usage of harmful products for the environment.

The production of 1 kg of tomatoes in greenhouses emits 10 times more C02 than 1kg of tomatoes cultivated in season in a field.

Some figures

• In Brussels, approximately 1/3 of the environmental impacts of a household is connected to its consumption of food or drink
• A frozen pizza with ham requires more oil than ham
• Approximately 20% of greenhouse gas emissions are connected to the production, ransformation, transport and preservation of food

Reduce the environmental impact

While keeping the pleasure of good food, it is possible to reduce our impact by simple gestures:

• Opt for local and seasonal products. They are more delicious, protect the environment and are cheaper.
• Buy loose fruits and vegetables
• Buy organic products. Organic food (bio) produces fewer CO2, does not contain pesticides, respects the well-being of animals and our health. The City of Brussels organizes an exclusively organic market on the Place Saint-Cathérine every Wednesday.
• Buy exotic products stemming from fair trade. Their production respects the working conditions of the producers and nature. The City of Brussels serves coffee stemming from fair trade to its staff.
• Decrease your consumption of meat. The production of 1kg of beef requires more than 10.000 liters of water and 7 liters of oil.
• Buy normal quantities and buy more regularly
• Avoid products that are packed excessively

Links

• Food and environment: 65 advices to feast by respecting the environment and health (PDF in French)
• Calendar CRIOC of seasonal fruits and vegetables (PDF in French)
• ASBL Le début des haricots: links between consumers and local producers, the groups of united purchases www.haricots.org )