The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts, substantially altering food production, consumption, and waste generation trends across the European Union. This study examines the temporal and spatial fluctuations in food waste generation among European Union member states during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on six key food waste parameters. The data analysis revealed that the total amount of food waste did not undergo significant changes during the 2020-2022 period. The proportion of food waste generated by household activities was the highest in 2021, which aligns with the increased time spent at home by the population. The proportion of food waste from retail and other food distribution channels, as well as restaurants and food services, exhibited a steadily increasing trend over the study period. The detailed results highlight differences in food waste generation dynamics, with varying degrees of impact across European Union countries. This suggests not only differential policy effectiveness, but also the influence of diverse socioeconomic factors, individual and community habits.