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Leftovers: A History of Food Waste and Preservation
A topical and richly entertaining history of food preservation and food waste in Britain from the sixteenth-century kitchen to the present day.
In Leftovers, Eleanor Barnett explores the many ingenious ways in which our ancestors sought to extend the life of food through preservation, the culinary reuse of leftovers and the recycling of food scraps. Embracing a broad historical lens, the book spans Tudor household management; the world-changing inventions in food preservation of the Industrial Revolution from the tin can to artificial refrigeration; the growth of public health initiatives and organised food waste collection in the Victorian era; state promotion of thrifty eating during the two World Wars; and the politics of food and packaging waste in the modern era of sustainability.
Opening a window on the everyday experiences of ordinary people in the past, Leftovers reveals how factors such as religious belief, class identities and gender have historically shaped attitudes towards food waste. At a time when a third of the food we produce globally is wasted, Leftovers links its central historical focus to humanitarian and environmental issues of urgent contemporary interest - including climate change, globalisation, scientific advancement, poverty and inequality.
In Leftovers, Eleanor Barnett explores the many ingenious ways in which our ancestors sought to extend the life of food through preservation, the culinary reuse of leftovers and the recycling of food scraps. Embracing a broad historical lens, the book spans Tudor household management; the world-changing inventions in food preservation of the Industrial Revolution from the tin can to artificial refrigeration; the growth of public health initiatives and organised food waste collection in the Victorian era; state promotion of thrifty eating during the two World Wars; and the politics of food and packaging waste in the modern era of sustainability.
Opening a window on the everyday experiences of ordinary people in the past, Leftovers reveals how factors such as religious belief, class identities and gender have historically shaped attitudes towards food waste. At a time when a third of the food we produce globally is wasted, Leftovers links its central historical focus to humanitarian and environmental issues of urgent contemporary interest - including climate change, globalisation, scientific advancement, poverty and inequality.
- GenresFoodHistoryNonfiction
431 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2024
26 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 2, 2024
I was really disappointed by this book. I was hoping for a history of the methods of food preservation along with a discussion of the role of food waste. What I got was a surface level history of topics that were only occasionally related to food waste and even less so preservation (the main methods of preservation aren't even thoroughly described, and why they preserve food isn't mentioned).
The second half of the book is a story about food waste in COVID and looking to the future. These pieces aren't really history and are quite repetitive.
The second half of the book is a story about food waste in COVID and looking to the future. These pieces aren't really history and are quite repetitive.
July 22, 2025
I really enjoyed this read! It was highly facts driven but the author told a fantastic story to guide the reader through the history of food preservation and waste. Most of it was set in the UK but it was fascinating to hear about how European countries have shifted their strategies for waste and preservation over the centuries.
Would recommend for anyone interested in sustainability, food waste, and how the heck we can, as individuals, feel a bit better about how we use up our food.
Would recommend for anyone interested in sustainability, food waste, and how the heck we can, as individuals, feel a bit better about how we use up our food.
June 27, 2024
This is a brilliant book to read and while the title sounds like something from decades ago, it is actually very appropriate.
The book looks at how food has been grown and used over the centuries. The author takes the reader back to how inventions have changed how we look and deal with food over the years. Shopping used to be a daily event as there was no way of keeping fresh food fresh, it could be salted and smoked but there was very little that could be done to preserve food and retain the flavour as there is today.
With the emergence of technologies, that were new at the time, the people's understanding of how food storage improved. Understanding that rotten foods can cause illness and death took a step towards how food was sold, prepared and stored. It was not until the realisation of this that ice was used in special cooling boxes would prolong food did things began to change. Along with this was the use of canning foods.
Many discoveries over the decades have improved the quality of foods. It also opened up the UK household to foods that would never have made the journey from other countries and still be edible. This was good for the consumer but it also saw the start of something else. Food waste! With food being stored longer, it meant that the shopper could buy more. Food would be kept chilled, frozen or canned so this meant no more need for a daily shop. This ultimately led to food going past its fresh and nutritious state.
It was noticed that food was spoiling as it was not being used. I know that I have wasted food over the years. From the random lettuce in the back of the salad drawer, the forgotten tin of random beans in the back of the cupboard or the long-forgotten pack of sausages in the back of the freezer. While they were good for consumption at the time of purchase, they had, however, lingered too long and spoiled.
The author tackles these subjects and a whole lot more. Food waste is something that is a more modern event. I can remember the food mountains being mentioned when I was a child. If you think this is a book that looks just at the past then you would be mistaken. The thing I liked about this book was that the author brought things up to date. Not just mentions of plastics and pollution but how new technologies and inventions are not always the best thing.
The author lays this book out in such a good way, that there is plenty to learn and also realise. It will make you look at your shopping habits. I think I am very good as I have very little food waste. I do compost, any mealtime leftovers are either used again for another dish, eaten cold or given to the dog.
The author does not lay blame at anyone's front door as such, but what she does do is look at society over the years, the changes in our lives and developments in other countries. How things from the past gave us answers to problems that would make our lives today very different but also how these also gave us a new set of problems.
This book is a look at food over the centuries, from the early modern age to the present day. At the changes in opinions, way of life, living standards and conditions, society and the environment. It is an incredibly interesting book that has a lot to think about. It opened my eyes to quite a few things that I had not thought about.
Fabulous book, well researched and very readable, with no boring lists of stats but instead a well-thought-out and addictive book. I would definitely recommend this.
The book looks at how food has been grown and used over the centuries. The author takes the reader back to how inventions have changed how we look and deal with food over the years. Shopping used to be a daily event as there was no way of keeping fresh food fresh, it could be salted and smoked but there was very little that could be done to preserve food and retain the flavour as there is today.
With the emergence of technologies, that were new at the time, the people's understanding of how food storage improved. Understanding that rotten foods can cause illness and death took a step towards how food was sold, prepared and stored. It was not until the realisation of this that ice was used in special cooling boxes would prolong food did things began to change. Along with this was the use of canning foods.
Many discoveries over the decades have improved the quality of foods. It also opened up the UK household to foods that would never have made the journey from other countries and still be edible. This was good for the consumer but it also saw the start of something else. Food waste! With food being stored longer, it meant that the shopper could buy more. Food would be kept chilled, frozen or canned so this meant no more need for a daily shop. This ultimately led to food going past its fresh and nutritious state.
It was noticed that food was spoiling as it was not being used. I know that I have wasted food over the years. From the random lettuce in the back of the salad drawer, the forgotten tin of random beans in the back of the cupboard or the long-forgotten pack of sausages in the back of the freezer. While they were good for consumption at the time of purchase, they had, however, lingered too long and spoiled.
The author tackles these subjects and a whole lot more. Food waste is something that is a more modern event. I can remember the food mountains being mentioned when I was a child. If you think this is a book that looks just at the past then you would be mistaken. The thing I liked about this book was that the author brought things up to date. Not just mentions of plastics and pollution but how new technologies and inventions are not always the best thing.
The author lays this book out in such a good way, that there is plenty to learn and also realise. It will make you look at your shopping habits. I think I am very good as I have very little food waste. I do compost, any mealtime leftovers are either used again for another dish, eaten cold or given to the dog.
The author does not lay blame at anyone's front door as such, but what she does do is look at society over the years, the changes in our lives and developments in other countries. How things from the past gave us answers to problems that would make our lives today very different but also how these also gave us a new set of problems.
This book is a look at food over the centuries, from the early modern age to the present day. At the changes in opinions, way of life, living standards and conditions, society and the environment. It is an incredibly interesting book that has a lot to think about. It opened my eyes to quite a few things that I had not thought about.
Fabulous book, well researched and very readable, with no boring lists of stats but instead a well-thought-out and addictive book. I would definitely recommend this.
April 3, 2024
Well, what an incredible book! I never thought the history of food leftovers could be such an interesting read. I cannot recommend this book enough, it is informative, witty, and wildly entertaining.
Read
August 7, 2024dnf 💔
May 18, 2024
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from the introduction when the author described the Great Nottingham Cheese riots of 1766- a historical event that was not covered in any detail when I was school.
The book traces the history of food waste and food preservation from ancient times when food was preserved in the summer for the bleak winter months to very little waste to the current time where society is more aware of food waste and the environmental concerns of ever increasing amounts of rubbish.
It was reassuring to read that this isn’t a new problem, the descriptions of the Thames being a waste ground for butchers and the resulting stench that led to protests sounds familiar. As is the campaigns on imaginative and creative ways of substituting ingredients during the world wars- just have a look on blogs on thrift and saving money or the craze for banana bread during lockdown.
I found the history of how canned food came to be ( a result of a competition) and how this led to scandal of sailors being poisoned by contaminated cans. A scandal so bad it was discussed in parliament!
I couldn’t put this book down. I was hooked from the introduction when the author described the Great Nottingham Cheese riots of 1766- a historical event that was not covered in any detail when I was school.
The book traces the history of food waste and food preservation from ancient times when food was preserved in the summer for the bleak winter months to very little waste to the current time where society is more aware of food waste and the environmental concerns of ever increasing amounts of rubbish.
It was reassuring to read that this isn’t a new problem, the descriptions of the Thames being a waste ground for butchers and the resulting stench that led to protests sounds familiar. As is the campaigns on imaginative and creative ways of substituting ingredients during the world wars- just have a look on blogs on thrift and saving money or the craze for banana bread during lockdown.
I found the history of how canned food came to be ( a result of a competition) and how this led to scandal of sailors being poisoned by contaminated cans. A scandal so bad it was discussed in parliament!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews