Massive Food Waste Crisis in Cancún Hotels

Hotels in Benito Juarez, Cancún, are estimated to waste between three and five tons of food daily. This food, left unconsumed by guests or discarded due to expiration or quality standards, is a significant loss. Meanwhile, the National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL) reports that at least 500,000 people in Quintana Roo are suffering from food insecurity.

Abelardo Vara Rivera, an advisor to the Association of Hotels in Cancún, Puerto Morelos, and Isla Mujeres, acknowledges the complexity of the situation. He notes that a significant amount of perfectly good food is wasted daily. To distribute this food to those in need, a substantial investment is required for large premises, cold storage, and container trucks.

The president of the Cancún Group estimates that about 42 million pesos are needed to establish a network capable of utilizing the unconsumed food. This network would serve the hotel zone, which has over 40,000 rooms. To achieve this, participation is needed from all levels of government, the tourism sector, the business sector, and society as a whole.

Two contrasting realities exist in the region: abundance and scarcity. Thousands of people are in a situation of food insecurity and could benefit from the surplus food. According to CONEVAL, over 228,000 of Benito Juarez's 900,000 residents lack access to nutritious, quality food. The businessman believes that resolving this issue is possible given the amount of food being wasted.

The Food Bank, which has been operating in the area for 20 years, currently serves over 13,000 people across six of Quintana Roo's 11 municipalities. The greatest need is in Benito Juarez, Solidaridad, and Othón P.