A variety of other data collection efforts across the country will help provide information on other segments of the supply chain. However, reductions in both these estimates will provide evidence of progress in reducing food loss and waste and the serious environmental impacts associated with landfilling food. Neither estimate provides a comprehensive evaluation of food loss and waste in the United States. USDA estimates: amount of food loss and waste from the food supply at the retail and consumer levels: in 2010 food loss and waste at the retail and consumer levels was 31 percent of the food supply, equaling 133 billion pounds and almost $162 billion.The 2030 FLW reduction goal aims to reduce food waste going to landfills by 50 percent to 109.4 pounds per person. EPA estimates : 2010 was selected as a baseline at 218.9 pounds of food waste per person sent for disposal.Instead, two very different measures describe the amount of food loss and waste in the United States: The United States currently does not have a single baseline estimate of food loss and waste. What baseline estimates of food loss and waste will be used to measure progress in reaching the 50 percent reduction goal? Environmental Protection Agency to set a goal to cut our nation’s food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. have a goal to reduce food loss and waste? Consumers also contribute to food loss when they buy or cook more than they need and choose to throw out the extras ( See Buzby et al (2014)). At the retail level, equipment malfunction (such as faulty cold storage), over-ordering, and culling of blemished produce can result in food loss. Between the farm gate and retail stages, food loss can arise from problems during drying, milling, transporting, or processing that expose food to damage by insects, rodents, birds, molds, and bacteria. Land, water, labor, energy and other inputs are used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and disposing of discarded food.įood loss occurs for many reasons, with some types of loss-such as spoilage-occurring at every stage of the production and supply chain.

Wholesome food that could have helped feed families in need is sent to landfills.This amount of waste has far-reaching impacts on society: This estimate, based on estimates from USDA’s Economic Research Service of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels, corresponded to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010. In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. How much food waste is there in the United States?

Define wasted energy