In the United States, we love our doggy bags almost as much as our dogs themselves. In fact, it is common for Americans to be more excited about eating their leftovers than the actual meal. When I arrived in Italy, I soon realized the doggy bag is far less popular here!
When my friends and I first asked for our food “to go” in restaurants, our servers often looked surprised or confused. We learned that taking home leftovers is not as common here as it is in the US. This divide can be attributed to many cultural and historical differences between the US and Europe. Yet, there is a huge opportunity for Europeans to avoid personal food waste with the doggy bag. Let’s talk about the doggy bag and reduce the stigma surrounding leftovers.
Leftovers are popular in the US
Surprisingly, the first version of the doggy bag originated in Italy. In Roman times it was seen as polite to bring a napkin, called a mappula, to dinner parties. Eventually Romans began to use the mappula to bring small pieces of food back home to enjoy after the festivities were over. After the Romans, the act of bringing leftovers home did not have a revival until WWII. During the war, many Americans were going through economic hardships and could not afford to waste any food. Around the same time, bags were given to diners with the actual intention of having the leftovers fed to the dogs to prevent animal cruelty. Over time these bags began to be commonly used for people, and the doggy bag practice has remained strong in the States to this day. Of course, there was some resistance to doggy bags when the trend began. The food was originally meant for dogs, so the idea of people reusing the food seemed vulgar. As their popularity increased, this perspective faded away and it is now completely acceptable to take leftovers to go at any kind of restaurant in the US. However the negative view of doggy bags persists in Europe.
A typical portion of food served in US restaurants compared to a normal serving of food
The difference in perspectives can be largely attributed to the different food cultures in the US and Europe. In the States there is a lack in food traditions that encourage people to cook their own food. Instead it is commonly seen as a chore. That is part of the appeal of leftovers in America–all the benefits of a dinner with none of the work. In places where food is a huge part of culture, like Italy, doggy bags are frowned upon using because: asking for a doggy bag implies that the food is only fit for dogs, the custom is seen as rude, and it is uncommon to eat food in a way different than it was prepared (cold pizza, reheating pasta). Also, the portions sizes in the US are much larger than in Europe–it is nearly impossible to finish the portions served in restaurants–further contributing to the doggy bag practice. Unfortunately these cultural norms prevent people from a great food waste prevention tool.
Trendy doggy bags
There have been recent efforts to incorporate doggy bags into European culture. In France “the Doggy Bag” law requires all restaurants to provide take away bags or boxes for all customers that request them. Sweden has made promotional videos with famous rappers about doggy bags, and there has even been progress in Italy. In Milan restaurants have begun using fashionable doggy bags to reduce the bags’ bad image. Furthermore, the National Consortium for the Recovery and Recycling of Cellulose-based Packaging (COMIECO) is getting involved by hiring designers to create chic doggy bags for Italian restaurants. The Agriculture Ministry in Italy also launched a €1 million campaign to reinvent the doggy bag–now called “family bags” by the ministry–and incorporate them into everyday life.
All of these initiatives are a step in the right direction, but it is up to diners like you and me to make an effort to ask for a bag at the end of a meal. By doing this, we can normalize the doggy bag and fight the food waste issue around the world!
