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Measurable success in reducing food waste in Darmstadt's school kitchens – award as part of the national strategy against food waste
The catering department of the municipal enterprise for public services (EAD) been recognized by the "Out-of-Home Catering" competence center of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture's "National Strategy for Reducing Food Waste"
The evaluation is based on a method for systematically measuring food waste in production kitchens, enabling targeted analysis and optimization. The insights gained are directly incorporated into menu planning, purchasing, and production processes.
Approximately 3000 meals daily for schools and daycare centers
In eight production kitchens operated by EAD, approximately 3,000 meals prepared daily for daycare centers, primary and secondary schools in Darmstadt. The aim is to provide resource-efficient meals with balanced, seasonal dishes that appeal to the tastes of the young target group.
City Treasurer André Schellenberg emphasizes:
“This repeated award confirms the EAD’s continuous commitment to the responsible handling of food in community catering. The food waste measurements show that our measures for needs-based planning and targeted purchasing are effective.”
Environmental certification according to ISO 14001
In addition to measuring food waste, EAD is certified according to the environmental standard ISO 14001. This certification aims to systematically improve environmental performance. Here, too, reducing food waste plays a central role.
The involvement of all teams – from the kitchen to serving – as well as regular coordination between purchasing, production, and analysis are considered crucial success factors.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
