Last week, France’s Parliament took a bold step by passing a law that prohibits supermarkets from tossing out unsold food. Instead, they are required to donate anything still edible to charities. This brilliant initiative should be a model for the rest of the world. However, consumers also play a crucial role in the fight against food waste.
It’s downright outrageous that we throw away perfectly good food while so many individuals, including 15 million children in the U.S., go hungry. The fact that one in six Americans faces hunger is a stark reminder of the imbalance we’ve created. Did you know that roughly one-third of the food produced globally is wasted? We have the resources to eradicate hunger, yet we’re filling landfills instead of stomachs.
In the U.S., one major contributor to food waste is the confusion surrounding expiration dates. There are terms like “sell by,” “best by,” and “use before” that many people—including supermarket employees—often misunderstand. Dana Gunders, a staff scientist at NRDC, explains that “sell by” dates are for retailers, not consumers, to manage inventory. “Best before” and “use by” dates are merely estimates of peak quality provided by manufacturers. How often have you tossed yogurt just because it was a couple of days past its date? I know I have, even when it looked and smelled perfectly fine. The World Bank reports that North America wastes nearly half of its food—42%—mostly at the consumer level due to the decision to discard items.
Supermarkets also contribute to this wasteful cycle. It’s shocking to learn that many stores destroy unsold food by pouring bleach over it before disposal. This practice ensures that anyone scavenging through dumpsters won’t find anything edible. Former food minister Pierre Dufresne, who advocated for the new law in France, called it “scandalous” that bleach is used on food that could still be consumed. Under the new law, larger stores must establish partnerships with charities by July of next year or face hefty fines—up to €75,000 (around $83,000)—or even jail time. Unsellable but safe food will be donated to farms for animal feed or composting.
While supermarkets account for about 10% of food waste, we can all do our part to buy only what we need, enjoy our leftovers, and make smarter choices regarding food quality instead of relying on arbitrary dates. Composting can also help you realize just how much food—and money—you’re wasting.
Fun Fact: We produce enough food to give every person on the planet around 2,700 calories a day. Yet, 842 million people still go to bed hungry. That’s just not okay.
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In summary, it’s time to rethink our relationship with food. With millions going hungry in the U.S. and an alarming amount of food wasted, we can all take steps—both as consumers and communities—to make a difference. Let’s ensure that every meal counts!