tossed out food waste in america
DESCRIPTION
This program investigates the impact of food waste on the people and environment in which we live. Reducing food waste has been an emerging topic of discussion in the world because of its great potential to reduce the burden on the environment, save valuable nutrients that could be nourishing people and save money. This lesson focuses on practical and realistic approaches to reduce food waste at the household level.TRANSCRIPT
Abby Gold, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D.Stacy Wang, R.D., L.R.D.
Tossed Out: Saving Food in America
Rebecca Hummel Tanya Lillehoff
Objectives
Understand the impact of food waste on the U.S. and environment
Become aware of major causes of food waste
Learn ways we can reduce waste in our daily lives
Test your food waste knowledge…
Most commonly wasted fruits and veggies
The Cost of Getting Food From the Farm to Our Fork
Uses 80 percent of all freshwater consumed in the U.S.
Ag production accounts for 50 percent of U.S. land
40 percent of food produced goes uneaten
In addition, food production:
Eats up 10 percent of the total U.S. energy budget
Food decomposing in landfills accounts for 23 percent of U.S. methane emissions
Why do we waste so much food in the U.S.?
Food is cheap compared with other costs
The more food consumers waste, the more food producers are able to sell
Photo: What the World Eats
United States THE CAVENS OF
CALIFORNIA
Picture credits What the World Eats
China THE CUIS OF WEITAIWU VILLAGE
How Much the Average American Consumer Wastes
10 times as much food as someone in Southeast Asia
50 percent more than Americans in the 1970s
The good news: We once wasted far less, and we can get back to that level again
Food Steps
Farm
Processing
Distribution
Retail
Consumer
Farming
Food loss Food that never is harvested
Food that is lost between harvest and sale
Ways farmers can cut those losses
Food recovery organizations
Encourage regional food systems
Processing
The trimmings and peelings of processing
Losses
Ways to cut losses
Distribution
Causes
Improper handling/refrigeration
Rejected shipments
Strategies
Proper training
Online solutions
Retail Losses Causes
Overstocked product displays
Expectation of cosmetic perfection
Availability of fresh, ready food until closing
Expired “sell by” dates
Ideas for change Instead of buy-one-get-one-free
promotions, do half-off promotions
Remove “display until” dates to reduce consumer confusion
Sell imperfect or nearly expired goods at a discount rather than tossing them
Food Service Losses
Causes
Plate waste from large portions and undesired accompaniments
Ideas for Change
Trayless cafeterias discourages the overloading
of trays
reduced food waste by as much as 30 percent
Offer smaller-portion options
Consumer Causes
Lack of awareness and undervaluing of foods
Confusion over label dates
Spoilage
Date Labels and the FDA
A principle of U.S. food law is that foods in U.S. commerce must be wholesome and fit for consumption.
Date Labels Demystified
Best Before These dates refer to quality
rather than food safety.
Display Until and Sell By You can ignore these dates
because they are for shop staff, not for shoppers.
Use By These dates refer to safety.
Always follow the storage instructions on food packages.
More Consumer Causes
Impulse and bulk purchases
Poor planning
Overpreparation
Consumer Strategies
Meal planning
Packaging
Buy imperfect products
Grading standards
Pepperplate App and Website
Consumer Strategies
Portion size
Freeze unused products
Consumer Strategies
Composting Naturally occurring decomposition process
Reduces methane emissions and recycles nutrient
http://t.co/dMX7n3Vk7m
Video: Graffiti art with food waste
ReferencesD’Aluisio, F., and Menzel, P., What the World Eats (2008), California: Tricycle Press.
Gunders, D. (2012). Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill. Natural Resources Defense Council.
http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/fruit-and-veg-waste
http://england.lovefoodhatewaste.com/content/date-labels-infographic
www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/healthieryou/html/tips_money_saving.html
www.extension.org/pages/24314/practical-ways-to-trim-high-grocery-prices
www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm210073.htm
www.governing.com/topics/energy-env/gov-curbside-composting-added-to-major-city.html