Recently, France’s Parliament took a groundbreaking step by passing a law that prohibits supermarkets from discarding unsold food. Instead, they are required to donate edible items to charities. This innovative approach should serve as a model for other countries, including the U.S. However, consumers also have a crucial role in reducing food waste.
The act of throwing away perfectly good food is deeply troubling, especially when you consider that one in six Americans struggles with hunger. The stark reality that people are going without food while perfectly good items end up in the trash is simply unacceptable. Worldwide, a staggering one-third of our food supply is wasted. We produce enough food to end hunger; instead, we fill landfills instead of nourishing those in need.
A significant contributor to food waste in America stems from confusing expiration dates. Terms like “sell by,” “best by,” and “use before” often leave consumers perplexed. According to Market Watch, Dana Gunders, a scientist at the NRDC, clarifies that “sell by” dates are intended for retailers to manage inventory, not for consumers to determine if food is safe to eat. The “best before” and “use by” dates are merely estimates from manufacturers regarding when food is at its peak quality.
How often have you hesitated to feed your child that yogurt just because it was a few days past its expiration date? I certainly have, even when it appeared perfectly fine. The World Bank highlights that North America wastes nearly half of its food production—42%—with a significant portion discarded at the consumer level, often out of sheer choice.
As for supermarkets, it’s shocking to learn that many destroy unsold food to prevent it from being consumed. In some instances, they go so far as to pour bleach over edible items before tossing them into dumpsters. A former food minister in France called this practice “scandalous.” Under the new law, food deemed unsellable but still safe for consumption must be donated; larger stores face hefty fines if they fail to comply with agreements made with charities. Unsuitable food will be redirected to farms as animal feed or compost.
Since supermarkets are responsible for 10% of food waste, regulating their disposal practices is a positive step forward. Yet, we can all do our part by purchasing only what we need, finishing our leftovers, and making informed decisions about food quality rather than relying on arbitrary dates. Composting also offers a practical way to track how much food we waste and, consequently, how much money we’re throwing away.
Fact: We produce enough food to provide every person on Earth with 2,700 calories per day, yet 842 million people still go to bed hungry. This situation is simply not acceptable.
For additional insight into food waste and its implications, check out our related post here.
In conclusion, addressing food waste is a shared responsibility that requires action from both supermarkets and consumers. We must work together to ensure that no child goes hungry while edible food is discarded. By being mindful of our consumption habits, we can make a significant impact on the fight against hunger.
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