On December 2, 2011 the Christian Science Monitor published an article
about food waste in the U.S. (LINK)
According to the Monitor more than
34 million tons of food is wasted in the U.S. every year.
Most of it ends up in landfills creating
voluminous amounts of methane gas
which is more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide (CO2).
“American Wasteland: How America Throws Away Nearly Half of Its Food”
(Link)
A book written by Jonathan Bloom wo also
writes a blog called Wasted Food (LINK) is quoted as stating:
“On a fundamental level it doesn’t make sense to me that
we waste so much food when
so many other people have trouble getting food.”
Quote from the Monitor:
"He estimates that as much as 25 percent of the
food we bring into our homes is wasted.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO LINK) reports
that annually an estimated one-third of the food produced
for human consumption worldwide is wasted."
According to an article published in the
Health Section of
The New York Times
(LINK)
left in fields, spoiled in transport,
thrown out at the grocery store,
scraped into the garbage or forgotten until it spoils.
According to a to a Tompkins County study
40% of food waste occurs in the home.
A survey by the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab
indicated that 90% of consumers bought food they never used.
What Happens When Food turns to Waste? (link)
A new study states that the Brits living in London produce food waste
which emits 6.3 million tons of greenhouse gases per year.
In the U.S. 18% of landfill waste is food.
If your family spends $160.00 per week on food and one quarter
of it goes to waste you lose $40.00 per week adding up to $2,080.00 annually.
?NOT YOU?
George Vanderwoude
Link to You Tube video "Food Waste is Money Waste"
Note:
The Cornell University Food and Brand Lab
features an interesting Lesson Planning Section. (LINK)
