RESEARCH TOPIC/ WHAT IS THE INJUSTICE?
RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND NOTES
- How much of America’s food is being wasted?
- According to the USDA’s Economic Research Service, there is a 31% loss of food at the consumer and retail level and the corresponds to approximately 133 billion pounds and 161 dollars worth of food product being wasted. This study took place in 2010, almost ten years ago. This is quality wholesome food that could have provided for thousands of families in need is now going to the landfill. They’re very long processes to get food such as producing it, processing it, packing it, shipping it, transporting it, storing it, and all of this labor and effort to discard the food? In 2015 USDA joined with the U.S Environmental protection agency to establish a plan and goal to cut our nation’s food waste by 50% in the year 2030
- How can we cut down on food waste?
- The Ideal Approach to cut down on food waste is to not make this food in the first place. Overall waste can be avoided with improvement in marketing, labeling, storing, etc… If your food is unavoidable from throwing away think of an alternative. There are several options for excess waste such as composting to recycle the material, donating to homeless shelters and much more. In France, they passed a law making it illegal for supermarkets to waste food products/ any product. “France has become the first country in the world to ban supermarkets from throwing away or destroying unsold food. Forcing them instead to donate it to charities and food banks. ... Each year 1.3bn tonnes of food is wasted worldwide.“ the Guardian.
- Why Is the food being thrown away?
- People are throwing out food for lots of reasons, spoiling occurs in most food products over a period of time. Between the process of this food getting transported from farms and mills to the retail side of the business, there can be lots of exposure. Insects, rodents, molds, and bacteria often occur. Another big key component is an error in factories. For example, if you were keeping all your dairy and meat products in a refrigerated area and the electricity goes out so does that product. The final reason that our food is being wasted is the families at home, simply throwing out what they don’t finish after purchasing or cooking it. This may seem like little amounts of waste but it all contributes to the problem.
- What is the 2030 food loss and waste champion program?
- In 2016 the USDA and the EPA launched a campaign that got businesses and organizations to create a public commitment to cut down and reduce food waste in their own operations by 50%. This committee has now retired and has been urged by thousands to get back up and running.