Approximately 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted, as about $165 billion in uneaten food is thrown out every year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Michael De Groote, Deseret News
Americans throw away almost every other piece of food, according to a new study by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Approximately 40 percent of food in the U.S. is wasted, as about $165 billion in uneaten food is thrown out every year, according to the NRDC. That's a 50 percent jump since the 1970s.
"As a country, we're essentially tossing every other piece of food that crosses our path — that's money and precious resources down the drain," said Dana Gunders, NRDC project scientist with the food and agriculture program. "With the price of food continuing to grow, and drought jeopardizing farmers nationwide, now is the time to embrace all the tremendous untapped opportunities to get more out of our food system. We can do better."
Grocery stores and other sellers throw away about $15 billion worth of fruits and vegetables every year, according to the study. Fresh produce is thrown away more than any other food product. But consumers waste a great deal of food, as the majority of food wasted comes from restaurants and household kitchens, according to the NRDC.
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It troubles me that we are so wasteful--especially with our economy in such trouble and a global food crisis growing larger each day. It is shameful to realize that so much good food is going to waste when there are millions of people who are More..
It's a shame that the produce can't be given to the homeless shelters. It may be too far gone to make somebody buy it, but some of it has got to be good to make in a meal for that night.
I'm no agricultural economist, but there comes a point where the benefits of preventing spoilage are outweighed by the costs. This should be obvious. At least I hope it is before some well-intended revolutionary tries something crazy, like More..