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As World's Belly Rumbles, Gluttonous US Tosses Food

Posted May 18, 08 11:06 AM CDT in Science & Health,  US 

(Newser) – Americans throw out roughly a quarter of all food available for consumption, even as grocery prices skyrocket and global riots break out over food shortages, the New York Times reports. That works out to about a pound of food every day for every American—from grocery stories tossing spoiled produce to restaurants scrapping uneaten dishes to home cooks pitching uneaten leftovers in the fridge.

Fresh produce, milk, grain products, and sweeteners account for two-thirds of all waste, roughly 30 million tons of food each year. To combat waste, many major cities now have food rescue organizations that pick up and donate restaurant and grocery store food each night. Growing numbers of programs are donating scraps and overripe produce to livestock farmers or for composting.

Source New York Times

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More cities are using food rescue organizations to transfer food that's about to be discarded from restaurants and grocery stores to food pantries.   (KRT Photos)
Grocery stores throw out food that's spoiled or has cosmetic imperfections.   (AP Photo)
More than 30 million tons of food are wasted each year.   (Archive Photos)
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food  • food prices  • donation  • food shortage  • waste  • landfill


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