Entry #9: The problem with food waste

 

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When we think about the problems in the food industry, we mostly think about factory farming, contamination, and processed foods, but we don’t really think about the food being wasted or at least, I don’t. It is one of the biggest problems in the food system and it happens everywhere, such as in our kitchens and at restaurants. Every year so much food gets wasted because of us and it causes challenges to the environment. The picture above shows how food waste happens all around the world and it's not going to the people who need it. We don’t always pay attention to this, but wasting food does a lot of damage to our world, which is why we need to talk about it more.  

So, what causes food waste? Well food waste can be caused by a lot of things such as overproduction, diseases, poor storage, and consumers. According to Shelia Hu, “From discarded crops to overstocked restaurants to those fuzzy berries at the back of your fridge, food waste comes from every stage of the supply chain. The majority of food—nearly 70 percent, according to the nonprofit ReFED—is wasted in our homes and at consumer-facing businesses.” Isn’t that crazy how much food we waste?! This reveals how food waste isn’t only happening on farms but also in our homes. Looking at the percentage of food being wasted makes me realize how unfair it is to those who can’t afford food or have access to enough food just as it is shown in the image of a child with an empty plate. So many families worry about not having enough food to eat, at the same time; a lot of perfectly good food is being wasted. 

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Good thing there are ways we can reduce this! According to the USDA, “The best approach to reducing food loss and waste is not to create it in the first place. Waste can be avoided by improving product development, storage, shopping/ordering, marketing, labeling, and cooking methods.” By making improvements at each stage, we can prevent the loss of food before it even happens. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Planning, prepping, and storing food can help your household waste less food.” These are other ways we as consumers can reduce food waste. 

Overall, food waste is a big problem that happens globally and occurs in farms, retail, and in our houses. While the food industry plays a part in food waste, consumers play a big role in it, so we should all try our best to prevent it. By being informed about the problems food waste can cause, we can decrease it and make sure we keep our world safe and that the food goes to the families who need it most.