USDA is uniquely positioned to help address the problem of food loss and waste through its programs, policies, and guidance.
Food Loss and Waste
When food is tossed aside, so too are opportunities for improved food security, economic growth, and environmental prosperity.
In the United States, over one-third of all available food goes uneaten through loss or waste.
Critical Resources
Consumers
Each year, the average American family of four loses $1,500 to uneaten food. USDA offers a range of advice to help Americans reduce food waste, which in turn increases household food budgets and makes nutritious diets more affordable.
Donating
Donating wholesome food for human consumption diverts food waste from landfills and puts food on the table for families in need.
Farmers
Farmers never want to see the food they grow wasted, but sometimes crops are left unharvested because of environmental or market conditions, such as cosmetic imperfections, low prices, and labor shortages. There are many ways to help reduce this waste, feed people, and put money in farmers’ pockets.
Federal Interagency Collaboration to Reduce Food Loss and Waste
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed a formal agreement to reduce food loss and waste in October 2018.
Schools
K-12 schools have a special role in not only reducing, recovering, and recycling food waste on their premises but also in educating the next generation about the importance of food conservation and recovering wholesome excess food for donation to those less fortunate.
USDA Activities and Partnerships
Confusion over the meaning of dates applied to food products can result in consumers discarding wholesome food. In an effort to reduce food waste, it is important that consumers understand that manufacturers provide dating to help consumers and retailers decide when food is of best quality.
USDA Food Loss and Waste Innovation Fair
This virtual event showcased some of the latest food loss and waste mitigation technologies, programs, and innovations developed by the USDA, academic institutions, local governments, and businesses.
Why should we care about food waste?
In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply. This is based on USDA estimates of 31 percent food loss at the retail and consumer levels. This added up to approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food in 2010.
Most people don’t realize how often they waste food and the negative impacts it can have for food security, the environment, and climate change. Reducing food loss and waste could benefit them, their families, and the world, now and in the future.
Most people don’t realize how often they waste food and the negative impacts it can have for food security, the environment, and climate change. Reducing food loss and waste could benefit them, their families, and the world, now and in the future.
