Category Archives: Stats

Quantifying School Lunch Loss

There’s a reason adults tell kids to eat their vegetables–because they don’t! The 2010 changes to the National School Lunch Program (prompted by Michelle Obama’s push) that added more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to kids meals. But that comes at a cost–more wasted food and taxpayer dollars when school food is discarded. Virginia Tech junior Lindsey […]

July 24, 2013 | Also posted in School | Comments closed

US Food Manufacturers, Retailers Tackling Food Waste

The Food Waste Reduction Alliance, an industry group of food manufacturers, retailers and restaurants studying waste, recently announced their preliminary findings. Here’s the press release and here’s the entire study, done by BSR. Three thoughts: 1. It’s encouraging! The report is a sign that the US food industry is finally paying attention to food waste. The report […]

June 26, 2013 | Also posted in Restaurant, Supermarket | Comments closed

Half Wasted: Headline Review

In reporting yesterday’s big news that 30 to 50% of global food isn’t eaten, many headline writers focused on the higher figure. Here’s a quick roundup to see how various media organizations approached that age-old battle: attention vs. accuracy Misleading Huffington Post UK Los Angeles Times Australian Broadcasting Company The Globe and Mail Daily Mail […]

January 11, 2013 | Also posted in International | Comments closed

Wasting No Time Analyzing New Waste Study

The Institute of Mechanical Engineers just released a major study on global food waste. It’s always exciting to see further research on food waste come to light and Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not is no exception. Its major finding is that 30 to 50% of the world’s food never reaches human stomachs. The lower figure isn’t […]

January 10, 2013 | Also posted in International | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

At last–a peer-reviewed analysis of trayless dining! Two American University researchers found that removing trays at their all-you-can-eat cafeteria cut food waste by 32%. What’s more, diners use 27% fewer dishes, leading to water and energy savings. — — As we learn here, cutting food waste would go a long way toward making our food […]

December 21, 2012 | Also posted in Anaerobic Digestion, College, Composting, Energy, Environment, Trayless | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

The NRDC is at it again, this time publishing an issue brief on fruit and vegetable loss at the farm and packing level. Hot off the press! — — Here are a few Big Facts: 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted globally every year. That equates to 6-10% of human-generated greenhouse gas emissions. — […]

December 14, 2012 | Also posted in College, Composting, Environment, International | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

The burgeoning site Say No To Food Waste was kind enough to create this nice collection of food waste studies. — — I’d definitely sign up for a Waste Buster scheme, especially if it involves Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and the gang. — — The issue of wasted food received some nice exposure here, courtesy of Joy […]

November 16, 2012 | Also posted in Composting, Restaurant, Waste Stream | Comments closed

European Produce Pondering

On Friday, I was surprised to hear the finding that 50% of Europe’s fruits and vegetables aren’t eaten. Turns out I missed one small word–that close to 50% is wasted. Not a big deal, though, as nearly everyone uses tiny modifiers for impact. With or without modifiers, European produce waste is shocking. Yet even worse is North […]

October 9, 2012 | Also posted in Composting, Household, International | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Wait, what?! According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, 50% of Europe’s fruit and vegetables are wasted. I’ll have more on this staggering news on Monday. — — Lots of food waste discussion up in Canada. A recent report found that 51% of Canadian food waste comes from homes. I’m not sure I’d classify that as […]

October 5, 2012 | Also posted in Composting, Energy, Friday Buffet, Household, International, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Visualizing Food Waste

Thanks to Leanpath, for creating and transmitting this clear infographic on food waste. It’s further proof that our wastage is something for which we might want to…atone.

September 26, 2012 | Also posted in General, Infographic | Comments closed