[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|off|off” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#142E4C” background_enable_image=”off” background_position=”center_left” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_margin__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ width=”100%” custom_padding=”50px||50px||false|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_letter_spacing=”3px” text_line_height=”2em” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#F6EF57″ header_letter_spacing=”0.03em” background_enable_color=”off” text_orientation=”center” width=”100%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Food waste is a far-reaching problem with consequences on both the national and global scales. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n As a major contributor to economic outcomes, <\/span>environmental strain<\/span>, <\/span>and even food insecurity, the loss and misuse of food resources <\/span>costs <\/span>billions of dollars each year. <\/span>Yet because of its impact, initiatives to reduce and repurpose this waste have the potential to <\/span>bring about <\/span>extensive change.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#2D5D90″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In 2021, food waste cost the U.S. an estimated $310 billion<\/a>\u2014equivalent to nearly six million years of Harvard tuition at current rates<\/span>. <\/span>The majority of this toll falls on consumers<\/a>, with the average family of four spending approximately $1,500 annually<\/a> on wasted food. With over 10% of Americans<\/a> at or below the poverty line in the same year, money lost to food waste can be a significant chunk of a family\u2019s income.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/09\/cost-compare-1024×576.png” title_text=”cost compare” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#2D5D90″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/09\/food-bank-1620-x-1080-px-1700-x-1080-px.png” title_text=”food bank (1620 x 1080 px) (1700 x 1080 px)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Food insecurity affected 13.5 million U.S. households<\/a> in 2021, and disproportionally impacts families with children. The phrase \u201cfood waste\u201d may conjure images of moldy leftovers and slimy spinach fermenting in a refrigerator drawer, but the reality is that much of our nation\u2019s food waste consists of safe and edible food<\/a>.<\/span> Globally, we waste enough food to feed the world\u2019s entire undernourished population twice over<\/a>. By <\/span>reducing our waste, we can work towards a future where our abundance of food is <\/span>distributed to those who need it.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_width_bottom=”2px” border_color_bottom=”#2D5D90″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The production of food which ultimately goes uneaten wastes freshwater, emits gasses, and causes organic waste to pile up in our landfills. As it decomposes, wasted food releases harmful gases that build up in the atmosphere and can interfere with worldwide weather patterns, with consequences ranging from small lifestyle disruptions to cataclysmic natural disasters. These gases also contribute to the warming of our planet, making their reduction a vital part of the mission to steward our world for future generations.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/Nationaly-Representative-Survey-14.png” title_text=”Nationaly Representative Survey (14)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Features” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Our food makes a long journey from fields and pastures to our tables and landfills, with waste occurring every step of the way\u2014from going unharvested on farms, to being rejected by grocery stores for imperfections, to spoiling on buffet lines, to shriveling in the refrigerator. The following is a breakdown of the major points of waste along that path and the percentage of the food surplus<\/a> problem they represented in 2021. Nearly half of waste occurs in the home, making household waste a crucial facet to better understand and reduce.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/09\/whereWaste-1-2.png” alt=”Proportion of waste at various levels of the food supply chain, with 48% of waste at the household level.” title_text=”WhereWaste (1)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”75%” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For many households, holidays are a time for enjoying good food in good company. Serving platters are heaped with a variety of options, and we pile our plates with the plentiful spread. While there\u2019s nothing wrong with enjoying an indulgent meal as part of your holiday celebration, keep these things in mind as you host or attend food-filled festivities:<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/10\/Fig22_holiday-2200-x-900-px-1-1.png” alt=”Holiday food saver tips, with decorative graphics of food portions, pie, leftover dishes and an onion.” title_text=”Fig22 Holiday (2200 X 900 Px) (1)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#142E4C” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Did you know date labels can indicate the safety OR quality of food, and are only federally regulated on infant formula? The language on date labels is unstandardized and misinterpreted by many, resulting in prematurely discarded food. Rather than relying on the printed date alone, trust your senses when deciding if something is safe to buy or eat!<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/11\/Nationaly-Representative-Survey-25.png” alt=”Statistics about American household date label behavior, and tips for using your senses to determine if food is safe to consume.” title_text=”Nationaly Representative Survey (25)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Many countries, including the U.S., have pledged to reduce food waste by 50%<\/a> at the retail (e.g., grocery stores, restaurants) and consumer (e.g., individuals, households) levels by 2030. To realize this ambition, leading food waste experts recommend a simple but effective \u201cTarget-Measure-Act<\/a>\u201d approach:<\/p>\n 1. Target<\/strong> or set goals to motivate action<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Measure<\/strong> food waste to track progress toward goals<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Act<\/strong> to reduce food waste<\/span><\/p>\n MITRE and Gallup conducted this nationally representative survey of 9,259 American households to better understand the state of food waste in America and raise awareness about factors that can help reduce it. This is the largest known representative study of food waste in the U.S. Gathering representative data on the issue allows us to quantify a household food waste baseline and to better understand how different groups of Americans engage with food waste, making it vital to the quest of food waste reduction.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/41\/2023\/09\/Nationaly-Representative-Survey-1000-x-1500-px-1000-x-1200-px-1.png” title_text=”Nationaly Representative Survey (1000 x 1500 px) (1000 x 1200 px)” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Food Waste: Overview & SolutionsExploring Impacts of Food WasteFood waste is a far-reaching problem with consequences on both the national and global scales. As a major contributor to economic outcomes, environmental strain, and even food insecurity, the loss and misuse of food resources costs billions of dollars each year. Yet because of its impact, initiatives […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1086,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-837","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/837","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1086"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=837"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1160,"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/837\/revisions\/1160"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.mitre.org\/household-food-waste\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Economic Impact<\/h3>\n
FOOD SECURITY IMPACT<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT<\/strong><\/h3>\n
So Where’s the Waste?<\/span><\/h2>\n
When Abundance Becomes Excess<\/span> <\/span><\/h3>\n
Is “Best Buy” <\/span>the <\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Best Measure?<\/span><\/h2>\n
MEASUREMENT CHALLENGES<\/strong><\/h3>\n