Unintended effect of refrigerator usage on household food waste: Evidence from rural China

The rapid spread of refrigerators in rural China has significantly increased, yet their impact on household food waste remains unclear. This study investigates the impact of refrigerator usage on household food waste in rural China, employing an endogenous switching regression model and counterfactual analysis based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) data from 2004, 2006, and 2009. Although refrigeration significantly enhances food preservation conditions, our findings indicate that it may paradoxically increase household food waste. Specifically, refrigerator usage is associated with a 24.35 % rise in food waste and a 29.29 % increase in calorie loss among refrigerating households. This effect diminishes over time and is moderated by higher household income, greater dietary knowledge, and increased education levels of food decision-maker. The quantity of stored food at home serves as a mediating factor: refrigerators encourage greater storage, thereby increasing food waste. By deepening our understanding of the refrigerator-food waste nexus in rural areas, this study provides crucial insights for policy formulation aimed at mitigating household food waste for China and other developing countries experiencing similar trends in rising refrigerator adoption and food waste challenges.