"We must not waste the food."

Translation: Il ne faut pas gaspiller la nourriture.

[LSadun]

Why not on ne doit pas gaspiller l'aliment?

[ZarrouguiL]

l'aliment/les aliments is smth very specific. It's one food, often part of a dish. E.g. : "L'aliment principal dans cette sauce tomate, c'est la tomate." It wouldn't fit well in a general statement.

[Chris813123]

I thought les aliments is like alimenti in Italian, something in line with groceries in English.
From what you say I get it's more like ingredients. Or does meaning change depending on context?

[ZarrouguiL]

I guess "Il ne faut pas gaspiller les aliments" is technically right, and you would be understood. Just note that it's not the way we would commonly use "aliment".

[Don550357]

il ne faut pas gaspiller l'aliment?

[ZarrouguiL]

See above.

[dfJDe5iz]

So is food in general "nourriture" and "aliment" just a part of a food?

[Anna486728]

Why can't it be on ne faut pas ?

[ZarrouguiL]

On ne doit pas.

Falloir is a particular verb that can only be conjugated with "Il" : https://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/du/verbe/falloir.php

[Anna486728]

Thank you!