Too Good To Go invites people to celebrate Halloween more consciously, without waste

Too Good To Go invites people to celebrate Halloween more consciously, paying attention to reducing waste and making the most of food and sweets, to be enjoyed in moderation.

Pumpkins and the water needed to produce them

In Italy, approximately 40.000 tonnes of pumpkins are produced every year, grown over an area of 2.000 hectares, for a value of more than 30 million euros. Almost all pumpkins grown in our country are intended for food consumption, although the production of ornamental varieties is increasing.

This year, in some areas of the country, particularly difficult weather conditions have put pressure on the agricultural sector, making it even more important to make the most of every product.

Wasting food also means wasting the resources needed to produce it. One of these is water: according to estimates by the Water Footprint Network, producing 1 kg of pumpkin requires an average of around 240 litres of water. Considering that a pumpkin weighs approximately 5 kg on average, its water footprint is equivalent to the amount of water needed to fill around 8-9 bathtubs. When an edible pumpkin is bought, carved and then thrown away without being eaten, much more than its economic value is lost: the resources used to bring it from the field to the table are wasted too.

For a more conscious Halloween

For Halloween, Too Good To Go invites consumers to reduce waste through small everyday actions, from choosing a pumpkin to buying sweets.

1. If the pumpkin is only for decoration, choose an ornamental variety

The simplest solution is also the most immediate: if the aim is to make a lantern or a decoration, when available, it is preferable to choose ornamental varieties not intended for food consumption.

2. If you choose an edible pumpkin, here are some ideas for making the most of it

• [[ARTW_HTMLOPEN_AAAY] ]The flesh: can become the main ingredient in soups, risottos, pasta dishes, cakes, muffins, meatballs and sauces.

• The seeds: once cleaned and dried, can be toasted and enjoyed as a snack, added to omelettes or used to add a crunchy note to salads, soups and other dishes.

• If there is too much left over: store the pumpkin in the fridge rather than leaving it at room temperature. To extend its shelf life, you can also cut it into pieces and freeze it, so that it is available for your recipes in the following days.

3. Before buying more sweets, check those you already have at home and read the labels

Sweets, chocolates and other confectionery products often carry the wording “best before” on the label, which indicates the minimum durability date and not a strict expiry date.

Once this date has passed, the product does not necessarily have to be thrown away: if the packaging is intact and the storage instructions have been followed, it may still be suitable for consumption.

Before throwing it away, check the information on the label and assess the product’s appearance, smell and consistency. This way, you can avoid wasting sweets that are still good and reduce unnecessary purchases.

4. Choose Too Good To Go’s anti-waste sweets and save

Food that is still good at a reduced price and a practical action for the planet: with Too Good To Go, it is possible to help fight food waste at Halloween too.

Simply check the “Delivery” section in the app to discover the Pantry Boxes available and give sweets, chocolates and other confectionery products a second chance, celebrating in a more affordable and sustainable way. Always in moderation.

The comment

“The real fear this year should not be that of a pumpkin smiling from the window, but of seeing food that could still be eaten end up in the bin. With a few small precautions, we can continue to have fun and enjoy all the magic of Halloween, while also giving pumpkins, sweets and everything at risk of being wasted a second chance”, says Mirco Cerisola, country director of Too Good To Go Italia.

This article was translated from the original Italian version with the assistance of artificial intelligence. In case of discrepancies, please refer to the original Italian version.