What are food residuals or waste?

Food residuals or waste primarily refer to animal and vegetable materials that arise from food handling processes. This includes scraps from meal preparation, peels, cores, and other organic materials that are generated during the cooking process or food processing. Understanding food residuals is significant for waste management because these materials are often suitable for composting or can be processed in facilities designed to handle organic waste, contributing to a more sustainable waste management system.

The other options do not accurately represent food residuals. Packaging waste refers to the materials used to package food items, which doesn't fall under the category of food waste. Expired canned goods, while they may involve food that is no longer safe to eat, are considered a different aspect of food disposal and do not encompass the broader range of residuals generated during food preparation. Leftover food from meals might seem relevant but is too narrow since food residuals include a wide array of organic materials that are not exclusively limited to what remains on the plate after eating.