$29 billion–That’s how much consumable food is thrown out in the U.S. each year. One reason is misleading food labels, which big grocers have pledged to make clearer in the coming years.
A study recently published in PLOS One is just the second peer-reviewed large-scale consumer survey about food waste and is the first in the U.S. to identify patterns regarding how Americans form attitudes on food waste.
The findings provide the data required to advance targeted efforts to reduce greatly the amount of food that U.S. consumers throw into the refuse each year, according to this study coauthored by Brian Roe, the McCormick professor of agricultural Marketing and Policy at The Ohio State University.
Food waste is the largest source of municipal solid waste in the U.S. and the most destructive type of household waste in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers report.
Specifically, this survey brought to the fore how Americans think about food waste:
· Perceived benefits: 68 percent of respondents believe that throwing away food after the package date has passed reduces the chance of foodborne illness, and 59 percent believe some food waste is necessary to be sure meals are fresh and flavorful.
· Feelings of guilt: 77 percent feel a general sense of guilt when throwing away food. At the same time, only 58 percent indicated they understand that throwing away food is bad for the environment, and only 42 percent believe wasted food is a major source of wasted money.
· Control: 51 percent said they believe it would be difficult to reduce household food waste and 42 percent say they don’t have enough time to worry about it. Still, 53 percent admit they waste more food when they buy in bulk or purchase large quantities during sales. At the same time, 87 percent think they waste less food than similar households do.
What can be done in our own homes to combat this? How can you and I be more efficient and less wasteful? Imagine how many could be fed in this country with $29 billion worth of food?
There is your Monday thought.
