"Food waste in America is a significant and persistent problem that often goes unnoticed. According to a 2010 USDA study, 30-40% of our country's entire food supply winds up in landfills each year - almost 70 million tons. That's about $161 billion worth of food, meaning the average family's food waste totals around $3,000 a year. And while an enormous portion of our food supply is simply thrown away, roughly 48 million Americans - including one in five children - experience food insecurity."
"It's not just spoiled groceries that are contributing to the huge amount of food waste. Expired supermarket goods and unused restaurant ingredients are also a big part of the problem, with many large companies claiming they fear being sued if their donated food makes someone sick. While this may be true to some extent, we can't ignore the fact that some retailers dispose of perfectly edible food that doesn't meet their aesthetic standards, or that throwing food out is cheaper than repackaging it for donation."
Thirty to forty percent of the U.S. food supply is discarded each year, totaling almost 70 million tons and about $161 billion in value. The average family wastes roughly $3,000 worth of food annually. Approximately 48 million Americans, including one in five children, face food insecurity. Major contributors to waste include spoiled groceries, expired supermarket goods, and unused restaurant ingredients. Retailers sometimes discard edible food due to aesthetic standards or because disposal is cheaper than repackaging for donation, and some companies cite fear of litigation. Some restaurant chains are adopting measures to reduce waste through avoidance and sustainability practices; Shake Shack follows animal welfare standards, uses sustainable materials, and works to avoid food waste.
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