The staff ate it later

I wish they put this on screen in Germany, too (though in German, maybe, instead of Japanese). In cooking shows, I always fear they throw the food in the gargabe. With that note on the screen, if they do throw it in the garbage, at least they would be evil liars. Which might be less likely, and so I could feel better.

You're engaging in a decadent activity (watching TV) that "wastes" all kinds of resources but are worried about this one in particular (food) even though we have more than enough of it to go around?

Yes. Ish.

I also think that whataboutism is cheap.

I disagree that it'S 'more than enough' and that 'more than enough' is a good reason to waste resources.