“Throwing away food is like stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry.” – Pope Francis
Did You Know?
1 in 8 people in the United States struggle with hunger.
9 million children in the United States are food insecure.
Globally about 1/3rd of food intended for human consumption is lost or wasted.
In the US we waste nearly 130 pounds of food a year per person.
That’s like throwing away 260 pizzas or tossing out 400 perfectly good apples.
On average, Americans throw out more than 1,250 calories per day per person.
40% of all food in the United States is wasted.
Why Is This Important?
When we waste food, we are wasting all of the energy and water it takes to grow, harvest, transport, and package it.
This leads to $940 billion in economic losses annually, while one in nine people remain undernourished.
Environmentally, when food goes to the landfill and rots it produces methane – a greenhouse gas even more potent than carbon dioxide. This contributes to global warming and climate change.
Wasting food causes production as well as labor loss, which impairs productivity in the economy.
Resources
Tips for Reducing Food Waste
https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/tips-reduce-food-waste