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Ramadan: A Month of Fasting or Food Waste?

May 26, 2018
Mercy tables are a fundamental part of Ramadan traditions in Egypt. Photo courtesy of Ahram Weekly

This week is already the second week of Ramadan in Egypt.  Ramadan is not only thirty days of abstaining from all food and liquids until sunset, but it is also a time for great religious devotion and self-reflection for those who celebrate and practice it. Muslims are encouraged to reduce or eliminate unfavorable habits that will ultimately better the quality of their lives. Ironically, statistics show that ,although Ramadan is supposed to train and reinforce Muslims’ self-discipline, Egyptian consumer behavior is proving otherwise. Egyptian Ramadan nights are considered one of Egyptian culture’s’ greatest assets. Egyptians prepare feasts filled with good vine leaves, tender duck  and several various sides of pasta, french fries and fresh salads. Guests are welcomed into homes, accompanied with delicious pastries. Everyone reunites over the table, while indulging in food and watching annual Ramadan shows. However, the morning after a Ramadan night will show the remains of a half-eaten duck,  Konafa leftovers, and the now-bitter salad which are often chucked into the trash. An acclaimed study drafted by the the National Centre for Social and Criminal Research (NCSCR) warns that 83% of Egyptian families alter their food consumption…


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