During the New Year holidays, Moldovan citizens will spend at least 600 million lei on food, a significant portion of which will subsequently be thrown away - Veaceslav Ionita
In his weekly economic analysis, IDIS Viitorul expert presented an assessment of the pressure of the holidays on the budgets of Moldovan citizens and raised the issue of food waste. According to his calculations, the holiday table for one family will cost approximately 7,000 lei this year, meaning that each family will spend between 40% and 60% of their net monthly salary, which in 2025 amounts to more than 14,000 lei. Given the large number of holidays, the total cost of the holidays significantly exceeds the monthly income of families, which creates significant financial pressure. Veaceslav Ionita also notes that in Moldova, the holiday marathon lasts twice as long as the European average, continuing from December 24 to January 14. According to the economist's calculations, during this time Moldovan citizens will spend at least 600 million lei on food, a significant portion of which will end up in the trash. “The fear of an ‘empty table’ forces families to cook 150% more than necessary. Holidays, which should be joyful, turn into a huge stress, especially for the family budget,” the expert emphasized, noting that during the holidays, food consumption increases by 30% compared to the average daily consumption. At the same time, 29% of citizens do not have access to the minimum food basket, 23% live below the food security level, 27% cannot afford healthy food, and only 21% can afford to eat a full diet. The expert also cited data showing that despite a 90% increase in food prices over the past five years, annual food waste amounts to about 180,000 tons, which is equivalent to a 40-kilometer train with 3,000 freight cars. Of the total volume of waste, 45% comes from household consumers, 20% from the manufacturing sector, 21% from the processing sector, and 14% from the commercial sector. The total cost of spoiled and lost food in Moldova in 2024 was estimated at 18.2 billion lei, reaching 19.8 billion lei in 2025 and 21.3 billion lei in 2026. Food purchased and discarded by the population is estimated at 8.2 billion lei in 2024, with the prospect of growth to 8.9 billion lei in 2025. “As a result, families spend more on food that ends up in the trash than on healthcare, education, or recreation. At the same time, the consequences are also felt at the level of public services: the activity of garbage trucks is about 30% higher during the holidays, which is a clear indicator of the scale of food waste in Moldova,” the expert noted. // 22.12.2025 – InfoMarket.
