A Scientific Deep Dive Using PRISMA and Bibliometric Analysis
1/3
of all food produced is wasted
42%
by households
111
studies analyzed
Imagine every third shopping bag of groceries you bring home directly thrown into the trash. This startling visual represents a global reality—one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted, with households being the biggest contributors at 42% of total food waste 9 . Behind this staggering statistic lies a complex web of human behaviors, economic systems, and social norms that researchers are now unraveling using sophisticated scientific methods.
In kitchens around the world, from Stockholm to São Paulo, the silent epidemic of food waste continues to grow, with profound implications for our planet. The food on our plates connects to critical global challenges—climate change, economic instability, and food insecurity—making understanding waste patterns an urgent scientific priority 9 .
Recent studies using advanced analytical techniques are now revealing what drives our waste behaviors and how we can build a more sustainable food future.
To make sense of the vast body of research on food waste, scientists employ two powerful methodological approaches: PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) and bibliometric analysis 9 .
PRISMA represents an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in scientific reviews, primarily used to assess the benefits and harms of healthcare interventions but increasingly applied to environmental and social research 1 5 8 .
This rigorous guideline helps researchers transparently report why their review was conducted, what methods were used, and what they found 5 . The PRISMA framework includes a 27-item checklist and a flow diagram that maps the entire study selection process, ensuring comprehensive and bias-free reporting 5 8 .
Bibliometric analysis, meanwhile, is "a statistical analysis of written publications" that quantitatively analyzes academic literature using mathematical and statistical methods .
It helps researchers analyze patterns in publications, citations, authors, and institutions to track research growth, measure impact, identify collaboration networks, and spot emerging trends 2 . When these two approaches combine, they create a powerful toolkit for synthesizing knowledge across hundreds of studies and identifying the true drivers of household food waste.
In 2023, researchers implemented a systematic literature review followed by a bibliometric analysis to investigate the main factors influencing household food waste behaviors 9 . Their methodology provides an excellent model of how these approaches work in practice:
The process began with developing a precise research query in the Scopus database using principal keywords like "households food waste" OR "domestic food waste" combined with ancillary terms such as "attitudes", "determinants", and "behaviour" 9 .
The initial search generated 235 matching papers, which were then filtered through inclusion criteria—open access sources, English language, and publication in scientific journals 9 .
After applying inclusion criteria, the researchers arrived at 111 papers for final analysis 9 .
The researchers then used VOSviewer software, a powerful tool for creating, visualizing, and exploring bibliographic data, to map the network structure of research themes 9 .
| Cluster Color | Research Focus | Key Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Blue | Antecedents of Behavior | Theory of Planned Behavior, food management practices, household habits |
| Green | Economic Impact | Cost of waste, economic incentives, financial implications |
| Red | COVID-19 Impact | Pandemic consumption changes, supply chain disruptions |
| Yellow | Environmental & Social Effects | Climate change, social inequality, sustainable development |
The analysis revealed that the largest research strand (blue cluster) investigates the antecedents of behavior during food management, including the implementation of the Theory of Planned Behavior 9 . This psychological theory suggests that human behavior is guided by three kinds of considerations: beliefs about the likely outcomes of the behavior (behavioral beliefs), beliefs about the normative expectations of others (normative beliefs), and beliefs about the presence of factors that may facilitate or impede performance of the behavior (control beliefs).
| Research Tool | Primary Function | Application in Food Waste Studies |
|---|---|---|
| VOSviewer | Network visualization | Mapping co-occurrence of keywords, creating cluster maps of research themes 9 |
| Scopus Database | Literature retrieval | Providing relevant and reliable publication information with strong peer-review standards 9 |
| PRISMA Flow Diagram | Study selection tracking | Transparently documenting inclusion/exclusion decisions in systematic reviews 9 |
| Performance Analysis | Measuring research impact | Calculating total publications, citations, and h-index scores 2 |
| Science Mapping | Understanding research connections | Identifying thematic clusters through citation and co-citation analysis 2 |
The bibliometric analysis of 111 studies revealed several critical factors that influence household food waste behaviors across different cultures and economic contexts:
Insufficient meal planning and impulse shopping consistently emerge as primary drivers of food waste. Households that plan their meals for the week ahead and create detailed shopping lists generate significantly less waste.
Larger package sizes and bulk purchasing—though economically appealing—often lead to increased waste, particularly in smaller households. The inability to purchase appropriate quantities contributes substantially to waste accumulation.
Misinterpretation of "best before" and "use by" dates accounts for a significant portion of edible food discarded prematurely. Consumer education on date labeling shows promising results in waste reduction.
Cultural attitudes toward leftovers and next-day food consumption vary considerably across regions, with corresponding differences in waste generation. Societies that value culinary creativity with leftovers demonstrate lower waste rates.
| Research Finding | Practical Application | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Date label confusion | Standardized labeling systems | Reduced premature disposal of edible food |
| Bulk purchasing tendency | Right-sized packaging options | Better quantity matching to household needs |
| Poor meal planning | Digital planning tools and templates | More efficient food utilization |
| Negative leftover perceptions | Creative leftover recipe campaigns | Increased perceived value of food reuse |
The bibliometric mapping of food waste research reveals a critical insight: there is no universal solution to the food waste challenge. The factors influencing waste behaviors are complex, interconnected, and context-dependent, varying across economic, cultural, and geographic boundaries 9 .
However, the research also points toward promising interventions. The largest cluster of studies focusing on behavioral antecedents suggests that educational campaigns, improved food management skills, and conscious consumption habits can significantly reduce household waste 9 .
The COVID-19 pandemic research cluster (red) incidentally revealed that during lockdown periods, many households actually reduced their food waste through more deliberate shopping and increased home cooking, offering valuable lessons for post-pandemic behavior change 9 .
As we move forward, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning with bibliometric analysis promises even deeper insights into food waste patterns 2 . These technological advances may help predict emerging trends and evaluate the impact of interventions more effectively, accelerating our progress toward the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of halving per capita global food waste by 2030 9 .
Target 12.3 aims to halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels by 2030.
The journey to solving the global food waste crisis begins not in distant laboratories or government policy rooms, but in our own kitchens—with greater awareness of our food choices, more thoughtful meal planning, and a renewed appreciation for the value of every bite we take.