The idea of portion controls in a restaurant is comparable to turning down the music at a rock concert, a restaurateur has said.
JP McMahon was responding to suggestions that food portions could be smaller to help tackle climate change.
Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said large portions in restaurants is something that “really annoys me” and instead suggested chefs should just give seconds to those who ask.
Mr McMahon told Lunchtime Live there are two sides to this issue.
"There's a funny side of this and there's a very serious side," he said.
"I suppose the serious side is that between 30% and 50% of the food we produce in the world is wasted.
"Mostly that's down to distribution and large systems and bigger and bigger food systems.
"The kind of funny side is that [Minister McConalogue] was referring to everytime he collects his food and going up and asking for seconds.
"So, I assume he's talking about eating in a carvery or the Dáil canteen.
"I think it kind of demonstrates a lack of insight into how restaurants actually operate."
Fast food is served on a board. Image: EyeEm / AlamyMr McMahon said business owners are concerned about food waste.
"We're very concerned with the amount of food we waste, particularly from an owner-operator point of view," he said.
"You do generate quite a bit of waste from the customer's point of view, and you try and balance out portions.
"Going out for a meal is like going to a rock concert: it's for pleasure and the experience.
"If you were to go to a rock concert and say, 'We need to turn the music down because it's bad for our ears, and everyone should do this'.
"I think people would say, 'I want to go and enjoy myself' - there is a flipside but it is serious issue."
'Questions the system we have'
Mr McMahon said it is not a level playing field for food businesses.
"I think that restaurants that can do it will, but I think it kind of questions that system that we have," he said.
"Larger and larger restaurants, and particularly multinationals, can generate more waste and still make more profit because they are larger establishments.
"I don't know any small, independent café owner who would willingly give out massive portions to undermine their markup so they can throw the food back in the bin".
Mr McMahon said Ireland's lack of a minister with responsibility for food means it is seen differently.
"We have no Minister of Food in Ireland; we have a Minister of Agriculture, which is food as production - producing loads and exporting it," he said.
"Many countries now, like France, have food officers - and I think that this whole argument shows the lack of insight from politicians on how the food system works," he added.
Roughly 10% of all global emissions comes from food waste and one-quarter of that figure is linked back to restaurants.
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