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  • Glossary item | Last updated: 19 Feb 2025
Food
Bioeconomy

Food (or foodstuff) relates to any substance or product, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be, or reasonably expected to be ingested by humans.

EU, 2002, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety. OJ L31, 1.2.2002, pp. 1–24.

Source category: EU Legislation

“Food” is defined as any substance – whether processed, semi-processed or raw – that is intended for human consumption.
“Food” includes drink, and any substance that has been used in the manufacture, preparation or treatment of food. Therefore, food waste includes both:
“edible parts”: i.e. the parts of food that were intended for human consumption, and
“inedible parts”: components associated with a food that are not intended to be consumed by humans. Examples of inedible parts associated with food could include bones, rinds and pits/stones.
 
United Nations Environment Programme (2024). Food Waste Index Report 2024. Think Eat Save: Tracking Progress to Halve Global Food Waste. Nairobi.