Cancún’s Food Waste Crisis: What You Need to Know

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún ranks as one of the cities with the highest food waste in Mexico, with an average of 0.22 kilograms discarded per person daily—equivalent to over 80 kilograms per person annually, according to Claudia Sánchez Castro, national leader of the Pact for Food program, an initiative by the Mexican Food Bank Network.

The findings place the tourist destination among the country’s top generators of food waste, based on a study conducted across six Mexican cities. Sánchez Castro noted that nationwide, between 20 and 30 million tons of food are wasted each year, equating to discarding two trailer-loads of food every minute.

The problem, she explained, occurs at every stage of the supply chain—from production and distribution to consumption—and within households, necessitating a collective response.

Efforts to Combat Food Waste

To address the issue, the Mexican Food Bank Network has implemented the "Al Rescate" ("To the Rescue") program in destinations like Cancún. The initiative recovers uneaten food from hotels and restaurants, training establishments to identify and package surplus meals. These are then collected by the local food bank and distributed to vulnerable populations.

Additionally, the network promotes the campaign "En México la comida no se tira" ("In Mexico, Food Is Not Thrown Away"), offering practical tips to reduce household waste, such as proper freezing techniques, meal planning, and utilizing less common parts of fruits and vegetables.

The report underscores the urgent need for systemic changes to curb food waste, particularly in high-consumption regions like Cancún.