3.2 Food waste & kitchen equipment

Minimizing Food Waste

According to the USDA,¹ 90 billion pounds of edible food is wasted every year in the United States. This translates to approximately $370 of wasted food per person, per year.

Sometimes consumers throw away wholesome food because they are confused about how to safely store it or the meaning of dates stamped on the label. USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) works to inform consumers about the importance of safe food storage as a means of reducing the risk of foodborne illness. As part of its food waste reduction outreach, FSIS recently updated the safe storage² and date-labeling³ information on its website. In spring 2015, the USDA also launched (in partnership with the Food Marketing Institute and Cornell University) a FoodKeeper App⁴ to provide consumers with easy access to clear, scientific information on food storage, proper storage temperatures, food product dating, and expiration dates.”⁵

Efforts should be made to reduce food waste because:

• Food waste Is the single largest component of landfills
• There are people in need that could benefit from eating the wasted food
• The resources, costs, and energy used to dispose of discarded food, such as transportation, processing, land, and water use could be used for other purposes.

Individuals can reduce food waste⁶ by:

• Efficient meal planning
• Keep refrigerator and pantry organized; use foods that will spoil first
• Repurpose: use leftovers and food scraps in new recipes and freeze foods
• Compost food scraps: Composting is a way to recycle organic materials back into the soil. Compost can be used in individual gardens and lawns. Local farmers or municipalities may accept donations as well.

“Food scraps and yard waste make up 20-30% of the waste stream. Making compost keeps these materials out of landfills, where they take up precious space and release methane, a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.”⁷

Getting Ready to Cook

FOOTNOTES

¹ Why should we care about food waste? | USDA

² Food Safety Basics | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)

³ Food Product Dating | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)

⁴ FMI | The FoodKeeper

⁵ How Can We Support Affordable, Nutritious Diets? Reduce Wasted Food | USDA

⁶ How to Cut Food Waste and Maintain Food Safety | FDA

⁷ Composting At Home | US EPA

⁸ Kitchen Thermometers | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)

⁹ Cooking Safely in the Microwave Oven | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)