It is estimated that 30-40% of the total food supply is wasted (1,2).Food waste occurs in many areas of the supply line, from farm to consumer. Waste can occur due to aesthetics or spoilage at the farm, retail, or consumer level. Hidden aspect of food waste include the use of the resources needed to grow and distribute the food. Food is the single largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste(2). If food loss was reduced by just 15 percent we could feed more than 25 million Americans (2). Triple- bottom-line approaches (success is measured using people, planet and profit as the bottom line) to managing the food system can improve supply efficiency and increase food security. Some current actions that can help reduce food waste.
- Get the most out of your fresh produce: Wash fresh produce in Vinegar water solution to remove harmful bacteria that causes it to spoil faster. See Episode 1
- Source ugly/imperfect produce: https://www.imperfectproduce.com , http://www.endfoodwaste.org/united-states.html
- Backyard Harvest: Find or start a program to help harvest wasted fruit in neighborhoods https://cityheartblog.wordpress.com/2016/12/17/harvest-partners-lb/ https://foodforward.org
- Share excess food with your neighbor
- Compost Food Wast
- Right Portion Size
Did you know the Good Samaritan Law, allows organizations to safely donate food to non-profit organizations that then donate it to food banks instead of throwing in the landfill?
References
1. Buzby JC, Farah-Wells H, Hyman J. The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States. SSRN Electron J [Internet]. 2014;1–2. Available from: http://www.ssrn.com/abstract=2501659
2. Gunders D. Wasted : How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill Author. 2012;(august).
Some ideas that I have done to reduce food waste in my home is when I go to the grocery store, I buy less than what I normally buy. If I need more food then I will go to the grocery store to buy more of the food that I originally bought. I used to buy more food that I thought I could finish to save me a trip to the market, but in reality, I ended up tossing the food anyways, along with still needing to go to the grocery store. A way for me to help out the community reduce food waste is putting out fliers at places that allow advertisement, and I have put the information of Food Forward. Although I am not engaging with each person who sees the flier, they will at least be informed of what Food Forward is about. It would help get the word spread for simply seeing a flier and doing further research about it, and how helpful it is to the community.
ReplyDelete-Christine Phan HFHM 371
Van Pham HFHM 370
ReplyDeleteAfter few times wasting my food at home, I learn that I shouldn't buy a large portion at the supermarket because I can't make sure that I will eat and cook them before it is expired. Sometimes if I have leftover food from last meal I put them in the fridge and the next I may bring it to school for lunch or remake them to something new. One more thing that I usually do is sharing the food with my sister or friends, they are happy and enjoy my food and I feel good about not wasting food. For the community,I usually join or volunteer with some non-profit organization that collecting leftover food and donate for homeless people or churches that have free lunch event. And of course, trying to tell people around me not to waste food, give them some ideas, the more people participate the less food will be wasted.
Some ideas that i have that can help reduce food waste in my home would probably be, making sure that as a family we portion our food, being part of a 5 person family we ten not make food in big portions because we never know who will be home for dinner and who wont be. A solution for this though would be saving the leftovers and taking it for lunch the next day or even giving leftovers to a family friend, or even to someones significant other. Another thing would be to buy only the food we will be eating that day for dinner, so instead of having the food rotting or slowly going bad in the fridge we only have what we need for that day. For the community it would really help if people would put up farms or grow the veggies in their front lawn and if everyone would put a box of take some leave some by the veggies as to help everyone out so if someone grows something you don't grow you'd go pick some of there food and leave something you think they appreciate.
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ReplyDeleteA few things that I have been doing to reduce my food waste are buying only what I need at grocery stores, stop buying in bulk, and remaking my leftover. Before I used to go to the grocery stores once every other week and buy in bulk a lot of foods and fresh produce that I could use within 2 weeks. However, I recognized that I often threw out many foods I bought because, for example, many fresh produce could not be fresh anymore after 2 weeks, or many ready to eat foods such as sandwiches, fruits, roasted chicken were gone bad quickly after a few days. Now I go to grocery stores more often and buy what I need to use for the next 2,3 days followed strictly a list of ingredients instead of buying without any thinking. I use leftover food that I do not want to eat more such as white rice or roasted chicken to make new and tasty dishes like egg fried rice or chicken soup. By this way, I can reduce my food waste but do not feel tired eating the same food over and over again.
ReplyDeleteMelissa Tercero HFHM 370
ReplyDeleteTo reduce food waste within my house, I would buy less at the market. In a family of five that work or go to school all day, we only make one trip a week to the market. Because we are busy, it is easier to buy in bulk, rather than go twice a week. Therefore, to reduce waste I would be aware of the amount we buy and only buy for five people to eat, rather than buying in bulk. Furthermore, in my house we give our leftovers to the dogs (of Course they have to be safe). That way any leftovers are not wasted and it helps feed the dogs. To help reduce rate in the community I would spread awareness about the "new face of hunger". Open the communities’ eyes that people who go hungry do not have to be really poor, but are family like ours. Also, it would help to talk to neighbors who have fruit trees and do not pick the fruits. I would encourage them to put them in boxes with signs that say "take one" to help reduce the waste they have. Overall, to reduce food waste would help us end hunger in the U.S. and now knowing about the Good Samaritan Law it is easier to encourage others to help end waste.
There are several different ways we can all reduce food waste. At home, one way I can limit food waste is buy encouraging my mom to not buy food in bulk, like at Costco. By doing so, we reduce the chances of excess amounts of food going bad and thrown away because we have overcompensated our intake at the time of purchase. Another idea would be to repurpose left overs towards future meals. By this example, we are able yield the most out of all the foods we purchase. A third example can be linked to how we perceive stores' "best sell date" on food items. Most confuse this date with the expiration date. By doing so, multiple foods are thrown away even though they are still good to eat. There are also ways I can help lessen our food waste dilemma in my community. One way would to raise awareness of the issue and to present possible solutions. I would push for more community gardens to be created and offered to anyone and everyone wanting to grow their own food. I think a small step like this could help lead to a monumental change worldwide.
ReplyDeleteSome ideas that I have used to reduce my food waste at home were simple changes. When making food for myself at home I usually make more than I need, but I use the leftovers for other dishes, continue to eat what is leftover, and let my friends have some if I do not think I can finish it before it goes bad. When eating the food I make at home I also try to portion smaller for if I put too much on my plate I tend not to finish it and throw out what is left on the plate. Another way to reduce some food waste at home is to create a something to compost the food in. My parents started a compost bin and it has created a way to use some of the produce they do not finish in time to use. I really like the idea that the Imperfect Produce program does bringing the less aesthetic produce to the consumer for even less than what they would get at a market. This helps to bring the waste of food down a lot where it originates at the beginning of the food supply line. Bringing this program up to family and friends would be a great way to remove some food waste in the community. Another way to reduce food waste in the community is to grow a small garden either for personal use or that is communal in a way that multiple people can use it such as at the ASI gardens. By implementing any of these I would hope that it would help to reduce food waste in increasing amounts over time.
ReplyDeleteThe body progresses from a condition of sound homeostasis to a condition of incessant malady just by the decisions we make in what we put into our mouth. oh teriyaki west linn menu
ReplyDeleteI belong to a community garden and they have implemented some very fruitful initiatives that have proven successful in combating food waste. One is called a “extra table” where if people have too much produce from their plots they can put it on the table and others can come and pick up the extra. Sort of like a take a penny, leave a penny tray but with produce. Any items leftover on the table are then donated to a local food bank every other day or whenever there is a bunch of surplus. Another great part is that the compost area has been enlarged as it started off as a place to leave clippings and damaged food products, but now has grown to where the people with plots will save up their food scraps from home and add them to the current pile. The ready to use compost from previous piles is then divvied out to any who need it for their plots.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing such a nice post with us..
ReplyDeleteundenatured chicken collagen peptide 2
It's really refreshing to see how many people are just as concerned with food waste as I am. I work at a restaurant and the amount of food that is wasted is majority of our waste, I would say 70%. Besides restaurants, even households throw away food as the majority. For big family get together's and special occasions, it's very hard for my family to actually provide just enough food for everyone, rather than supply an excessive amount. While I don't do any gardening personally, my family uses compost and home-grows a lot of our produce.
ReplyDeleteGustavo Portillo HFHM 370 Sec 02
ReplyDeleteI currently work at a family restaurant in Long beach and they usually have an excess amount of food during lunch time because of the buffet. The owners are very much engaged in the community so they already donated it to local organizations. However, not a lot of family owned restaurants donate their excess food because they are afraid of being sued if it turns out bad. Unlike chained restaurants, family owned ones have more to loose .I was unaware of the Good Samaritan Law until I was introduced during my sustainability course at CSULB. It's a great feeling knowing that restaurants and small businesses are protected by this law because they can donate their food with ease and not have to worry about any ramifications.
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ReplyDeleteCourtney Buckels HM 370 Section 01
ReplyDeleteI find food waste an intriguing topic. More businesses are implementing the trend into their services today. The collection of food waste is increasing, which in result, is decreasing the number of people who struggle with food insecurity. A nonprofit organization that is playing a large role in food waste is Waste Not OC. They partner with local grocery stores, restaurants, and schools by collecting food that can still be consumed which are then donated to local food banks. This ensures that communities, as well as school campuses, have a place where people have free access to nutritious meals. For example, the CSULB campus has a school food bank called the Beach Pantry. This ensures that students have free access to food. Waste Not OC does a wonderful job of ensuring food safety as well as high-quality nutritious meals. Some ideas that can help decrease food waste in my life and in the community are cleaning out my fridge regularly by using the FIFO method. This will force me to not waste the food I had bought prior to the most recent shopping trip. Another idea that can help reduce food waste is by partnering with outreach services where they serve food donated by local grocery stores. A way to impact the community is to grow your own food in a sustainable system and donate the produce to your neighbors and families. This will guarantee your community is getting fresh and sustainable food. After hearing about the Good Samaritan Law, it is comforting to know that businesses can donate food without concern. This law protects businesses who desire to help those who are in need and allows them to do so freely without consequences.
Makayla Jenkins
ReplyDeleteThere are many ways everyone can do their part in the overall fight against the unsustainable environment we live in. As we can recall from this posting, one way we could succeed in this is through finding ways, that coexist with our day-to-day lifestyles, to lessen our food waste. Food waste at home just adds to the amount of food farms think they need to produce. If we are at home, go to the grocery stores and keep spending money of foods we don’t end up using; this is only adding to the demand of food in the food production industry, and therefore, making them produce way more food than needed. It didn’t surprise me to read that 30-40% of food waste comes from the supply line because we do not understand the importance of really using and eating the foods we choose to purchase.
I find it absurd how much food we waste as a country! I believe some sure-fire ways we could reduce our waste is to first reduce our portion sizes and spending at the grocery store. One way I plan to reduce my food waste include implementing Libby’s vinegar solution produce wash and store in a glass container. I have tried it once already and noticed that my kale stayed fresh for an extra week! I am definitely going to wash my produce on a regular basis to keep it fresh and reduce the amount I toss in the trash. I plan to share Libby’s special tips with my friends and family!
ReplyDeletePersonally, it was a culture shock for me when I first moved to the U.S and saw how foods were sold in bulk and much cheaper compared to my motherland. It is also quite contradicting to know that 30 to 40% of food supply go to waste while food insecurity is still a problem in the U.S. I think we, as consumers, can be the ones to solve those issues by simply being more organized. One way I usually do is to make grocery lists whenever I go shopping for foods so that I would not buy things on impulses and only find to buy the ingredients I need for my recipes. Knowing how to cook is also a great benefit as it allows me to control my portion size and utilizes excess ingredients to create new dishes; thus, reducing food waste significantly.
ReplyDelete--Elaine Phu--
Food waste is an issue that everyone is guilty of contributing to. Food waste can be found in every household to some degree. When we take a moment to look back at all the foods we have eaten in the week, we can identify food waste in our diet. When I looked at my own diet for the week, I recognized instances where I didn’t finish my meal for reasons like getting more than what I could eat. Other instances of my own food waste was when I eat out and I get too many condiments like sauce packets that I don’t really need. This post was very beneficial to read because it puts food wastage in number so I had a better idea of how much food we don’t use. It’s shocking to see how if we cut back a little on the food waste, it could make a huge difference for someone who may not have enough food. The post makes a good mention of how everyone can reduce food waste through food donation and composting. The most important takeaway for me that I’m implementing into my life is to control my portion size so that I don’t get more than I actually need. At home, I’m trying to preserve food in my fridge and to consume it in a timely manner so that it isn’t forgotten. There are always small actions that everyone can partake in to make a big difference.
ReplyDelete- Bryan Nguyen
I definitely see food waste as a common thing still today. There are many convenience items around that either come in a wrapper or packaging, but more and more people are moving to perishables. I've noticed in my lifetime that people have become more health conscious about the right things, and have seen the skyline over Los Angeles clear up a bit as a result. Things have gotten better, but it seems as though it is easier for many people and organizations to dispose of the waste rather than put it to good use. It's hard to say where we are going with this in the future but we are on the right track, and this post has many examples of how we can further ourselves. While there were many good points on the post, the one that resonated with me the most was sharing food with your neighbor. I agree that communities need to get together and help each other, especially when their work can have a better overall impact on the environment as well. This just makes for a cleaner and happier place, which everyone should strive for.
ReplyDelete-Cody Jones
I knew that we as a society wasted a ton of food, but reading that first sentence that outlines that American’s waste 30-40% of our total food supply is outrageous. By wasting such a large portion of our food supply were allowing tons of people to go hungry despite the disposal of perfectly good food and were creating a ton of waste that our planet has to deal with. Especially after working first hand at an urban farm in the area, I totally see the waste that can happen in all levels of the food system, whether it be me at home tossing the last bit of carrots or me on the farm gathering lettuce but tossing out the “bad”, “imperfect” pieces. To combat this food waste, I think great ideas include making sure you are not over buying produce at the store just for it to go bad in your fridge and making sure farms are connected with imperfect produce drives in the area for their clean but maybe not so pretty items.
ReplyDeleteJuliet Mosby
ReplyDeleteTo reduce food waste in my home, I’ve stopped purchasing so many perishable items at one time. When food goes to waste in my household its usually produce or leftovers. Sometimes you can cook a large amount of food at a time but then it isn’t eaten. So, reducing the initial amount would leave nothing to be wasted. You can also use leftovers to incorporate into a new meal. Another way to reduce food waste is to compost, I bring small amounts and put them in the compost nearest to me. I would like to set up compost at my house to avoid traveling with food scraps
One thing I've started doing to manage my food waste is to buy less groceries, but more often. This ensures that I will go through all the perishable products without committing the admittedly made mistake of purchasing produce and forgetting about it in the fridge to spoil.
ReplyDeleteLately I have started composting my peels and other organic wastes to add to the soil of the plants in my backyard.
Cooking can be so fun in that you can take leftovers and liven them up by incorporating them into other recipes. My mom would do this as I grew up and as I cook, I do so as well.
Ideas I have that can help reduce food waste is to plan ahead and buy the right amount of groceries. As someone who tends to have leftover food at the end of the week, I feel that food portion is key to creating less food waste. Buying food that is compostable is a big help as well. For example, a banana is a perfect fruit to eat for nutrients but taking the peel and composting it also provides healthy nutrients for the soil. As for the community as a whole, I also believe taking advantage of farmers markets is a great way to reduce waste because the fruits and vegetables someone buys there are fresh and natural. A lot of food from farms do not make it to grocery stores because of a simple defect that would make the general public not want to buy it on a shelf even if it is still perfectly edible. Being able to buy from farmers markets allows for less food waste as well as fresher ingredients for the kitchen!
ReplyDelete- Julie Le
I found this topic to be interesting as well as useful. I always thought of food waste to be only what was physically thrown out or not finished, but taking the resources it took to produce the food into account adds some perspective on the issue. The tidbit about regarding the vinegar is something I'll start doing for now on. I find it that my veggies begin to go bad before I'm able to use them to make my meals sometimes, so I'll try out that vinegar trick. I think if everyone implemented this on their produce, it could potentially compensate for some of the waste from supply line mismanagement of the food production industries. It seems small, but increasing the amount of food not wasted in households over time can have a significant impact in the long run. Even in terms of the short term, it could condition people to preserve food in case of supply line disruption from a natural disaster, such as an earthquake. Very cool topic.
ReplyDelete-Gabe Carranza
After having done a little self-reflection a few weeks ago and paying attention the amount of food I waste, made this blog entry very interesting for me. In my personal life, I have already tried to come up with some ideas that I can incorporate in my food habits to make improvements. One thing I found shocking was the sheer amount of food I was letting spoil in my own refrigerator. The change I made to stifle this, included a couple steps. The first step is to plan 2 days worth of meals in advance. Second is shopping at the grocery store more frequently and buying only for those pre-planned meals. This one idea has lowered my personal food waste by more than 50%. With this habit in place even when I get an unexpected invite to lunch out with friends, I can easily roll the pre-planned lunch to the next day. I believe that if we all take a really good look at what we are throwing into the garbage, we will see how easy it would be to not continue these habits in the future.
ReplyDeleteShawn Chait HM370 Spring 2021
DeleteAfter having done a little self-reflection a few weeks ago and paying attention the amount of food I waste, made this blog entry very interesting for me. In my personal life, I have already tried to come up with some ideas that I can incorporate in my food habits to make improvements. One thing I found shocking was the sheer amount of food I was letting spoil in my own refrigerator. The change I made to stifle this, included a couple steps. The first step is to plan 2 days worth of meals in advance. Second is shopping at the grocery store more frequently and buying only for those pre-planned meals. This one idea has lowered my personal food waste by more than 50%. With this habit in place even when I get an unexpected invite to lunch out with friends, I can easily roll the pre-planned lunch to the next day. I believe that if we all take a really good look at what we are throwing into the garbage, we will see how easy it would be to not continue these habits in the future.
Sustainable food system is one of the key components in ensuring food security. Imagine our country wastage volume is an estimate of 30-40 percent of the food produced. The main wastes collected by our county municipality is food waste. Therefore, for a more sustainable food system, the aspect of diverting food waste to using methods that would make minimal food waste is necessary.
ReplyDeleteFood waste arises from the process of supply from different farms. I believe we can reduce the wastage at each stage in the supply from the farm to the customer. If the stakeholders at any point take part, the wastage can be reduced by 15 percent in our country. From this reduction, I believe the food recovered can feed so many and enhance sustainability in the U.S.
It is so unfortunate that “30-40% of the total food supply is wasted”. I used to work for a large coffee company and though my store religiously donates our unused food (to Meals on Wheels or Food Finders) at the end of the day, I noticed that company-wide food donation efforts were inconsistent while I was covering shifts at other stores. I saw this fact even two years later when I got hired as a supervisor at one of the large coffee company’s licensed stores. I was shocked to find that this licensed location did not donate their food at all. Instead, they threw away 1-2 full trash bags of perfectly edible food every night. It was truly heartbreaking because I know a lot of people go hungry everyday. Thankfully with my knowledge about sustainability and my passion for F&B, I implemented a system to donate food every night. Though I only worked at this location for a short time, I believe I fulfilled my purpose because they now donate their food everyday and no food goes to waste! Everywhere I work, I always try to see how the business can do better sustainability-wise. Though individual efforts are important, making these changes to businesses will create an even bigger impact on our food systems.
ReplyDeleteLeann G. - HM370 Spring 2021 - It is so unfortunate that “30-40% of the total food supply is wasted”. I used to work for a large coffee company and though my store religiously donates our unused food (to Meals on Wheels or Food Finders) at the end of the day, I noticed that company-wide food donation efforts were inconsistent while I was covering shifts at other stores. I saw this fact even two years later when I got hired as a supervisor at one of the large coffee company’s licensed stores. I was shocked to find that this licensed location did not donate their food at all. Instead, they threw away 1-2 full trash bags of perfectly edible food every night. It was truly heartbreaking because I know a lot of people go hungry everyday. Thankfully with my knowledge about sustainability and my passion for F&B, I implemented a system to donate food every night. Though I only worked at this location for a short time, I believe I fulfilled my purpose because they now donate their food everyday and no food goes to waste! Everywhere I work, I always try to see how the business can do better sustainability-wise. Though individual efforts are important, making these changes to businesses will create an even bigger impact on our food systems.
DeleteLeann G. - HM370 Spring 2021 - It is so unfortunate that “30-40% of the total food supply is wasted”. I used to work for a large coffee company and though my store religiously donates our unused food (to Meals on Wheels or Food Finders) at the end of the day, I noticed that company-wide food donation efforts were inconsistent while I was covering shifts at other stores. I saw this fact even two years later when I got hired as a supervisor at one of the large coffee company’s licensed stores. I was shocked to find that this licensed location did not donate their food at all. Instead, they threw away 1-2 full trash bags of perfectly edible food every night. It was truly heartbreaking because I know a lot of people go hungry everyday. Thankfully with my knowledge about sustainability and my passion for F&B, I implemented a system to donate food every night. Though I only worked at this location for a short time, I believe I fulfilled my purpose because they now donate their food everyday and no food goes to waste! Everywhere I work, I always try to see how the business can do better sustainability-wise. Though individual efforts are important, making these changes to businesses will create an even bigger impact on our food systems.
ReplyDeleteKylie Watts HM370, Spring 2021
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking to realize that 30 – 40% of the food supply is wasted; especially given that 1 out of every 6 Americans do not have enough food to eat. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when food supply was less plentiful, I began to evaluate ways I could better utilize my groceries and reduce waste. During the past year, I have tried hard to minimize food waste in my home. One step I take is to purchase only what I realistically believe I will need over the next few days. If I misgauge the amount I buy and cannot use it all, I try to freeze or can the food to preserve its life. If that is not an option, I offer to give the food I cannot use to friends and neighbors. Another action I have recently started to reduce waste is composting. Instead of throwing away scraps of produce, I now place the unused items in a compost bin that will be spread in my garden to improve the level of nutrients in the soil in my yard. Although these are small steps, I believe they are important to reduce waste and increase food security for everyone.
Melissa Tam
ReplyDeleteI am shocked by how much food is wasted in the US and how this could have been prevented if everyone learned about ways to reduce their food waste. I learned to compost my food which I can use to fertilize the soil in my garden. I found that it is a very quick and efficient way to reduce my food waste while also being able to use what I composted to maintain a sustainable garden and grow more vegetables. Another helpful tip for vegetable scraps such as onion peels and vegetable stems, leaves, and stalks is to save it in a freezer bag and then add that to water to cook a flavorful veggie stock. Previously I would purchase lots of groceries but end up forgetting about it or not finishing it before it goes bad. That was a bad habit that I have developed but I quickly realized how much food waste over purchasing can produce. I learned to shop more consciously and only purchase what I need and in smaller amounts so it does not go to waste. I think more organizations should help the community out by donating food that would have been thrown out otherwise. If everyone took small steps to reduce their own food waste, it will make a huge impact by ensuring food security for all.
Nicole Angel HM370:Spring 2021
ReplyDeleteAs I read this article I was astonished by the statistics presented, just as many other commenters have pointed out. I sat there reading on the different ways one can help eliminate food waste and It resonated with me, that as a society we've grown complacent with not thinking about the repercussions of our action. To an individual it may just be a bit of extra food thrown out in the trash, but it accumulates to food waste becoming the single largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste. The smallest of action of one causes a collective impact for all. This rings especially true in an individualistic society such as the United States. Personally, I've tried my best to not contribute to food waste. I don't have a compost for organic scraps, which is where most of my food waste comes from, instead I feed much of my scraps to my pet rat. Things such as extra lettuce, the ends of tomatoes, fruit that may be still good but cant stand the texture of, etc. go to her (with obvious safety precaution as to not feed toxic foods). I also find it easier to shop with my head and not my stomach to be very helpful, that way there is not extra foods being thrown away. It is disheartening when you hear of restaurants that purposefully ruin their food waste so homeless cannot go through the trash for it. That's why I also advocate that aside from enlightening the general public to change their habits for waste, we must also hold cooperation responsible for their part in a broken food system. Not everyone has food security, the money, space or time to commit to sustainable practices. I believe if you have the knowledge and the privilege to shop and consume sustainably and ethically, then you should.
Shana Mao HM370-Spring 2021
ReplyDeleteFood waste is a past and very current problem not only in the United States but worldwide. Thirty to Forty percent of food wasted represents a disturbing problem that must be addressed. It is possible to continue to point fingers at big business and say it is their problem and responsibility but that is not the truth. There problem isn't their's alone. There is a break down between grower to distributor to grocery store to customer. The most logical solution but not an easy task is to have food sourced locally to reach consumers in a more timely manner and reduce the need for big distributors. The most immediate change that can occur is with the consumer. Many consumers are obsessed with perfect produce. There has been an increase in directing attention to less than perfect produce recently which is a wonderful change. Unfortunately, the accessibility to this produce is limited. A change grocery stores could make would be to purchase the less than pretty produce from the growers and offer them to consumers in the stores. This would eliminate a percentage of the food waste and solve a portion of the problem. This would require a mind shift on the part of the consumer showing willingness to purchase the produce and the grocers to be willing to present and offer the produce. They could offer it at a discounted price. This is where the mind-shift would need to play a part. Since the produce may have appearance flaws (none of which affect taste) the stores may not want to have these items on display. I would love to see displays with imperfect fruit and would even prefer shopping where they are sold.
Another impactful change that is within our power as consumers would be to limit the amount of perishable groceries we purchase and bring home. Shopping for what we need every few days could eliminate waste. It is very easy to over purchase when shopping especially when hungry. By playing closer attention to our schedules and knowing when we will be home for meals we can better judge just how much we need while being realistic with what we think we will actually consume. We can and should also be just as thoughtful when we are eating out by ordering smaller portions. This is another problem with restaurants offering large portions.
I am currently working in a sandwich shop and there is some food waste with the ends of loaves of bread that are not used and some scraps of lettuce and meat from the slicer. I am hoping to be able to present to the owner an option of collecting the scraps and finding a local place to compost or offer as feed for animals.
I have personally made a conscious effort to reduce my contribution to the amount of waste I create by purchasing less, freezing what I can and using what I bring home. If I can't use it I as friends or family to see if anyone has a use for the avocados or such that I have and cannot use in time. I believe we can all play a part in creating substantial change and am hopeful more attention is brought to others by our actions and communication.
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ReplyDeleteＹａｎ Ｙａｎｇ ＨＭ３７０：Ｆａｌｌ ２０２１
ReplyDeleteFood waste occurs not only in the supply line but also by customers. As a customer, I often waste food because of a variety of reasons, such as spoilage, dislike, expiration, etc. However, most of these foods can have an appropriate way to dispose of and avoid being wasted. From the blog, I learned several ways that I never used before, including composting food waste, backyard harvest, and wash fresh produce in vinegar-water solution. On the other hand, I think it is a good idea to make a food purchase plan. For example, if I go to the grocery stores once a week, I can arrange my meal in advance and write it down on the memo. Then, I will buy food based on it. To a large extent, I cut back on food I don’t need. As Juliet Mosby mentioned in the comment, reducing the initial amount would leave nothing to be wasted. I cannot agree with her anymore. Compared to reduce waste, reducing purchases is a wiser way to reach our goals. We both save food and save money.
For the past year and a half I have been aware of how much food we waste, not only as consumers but along the supply chain. For mass production farms, during transportation to the stores, food is wasted because it is not being kept fresh and at the store level, food is tossed because it is not aesthetically pleasing. Just because something is shaped funky doesn’t mean that doesn’t provide the same nutrients. When farms are growing food, some of the product goes to waste because it is diseased or not growing properly and I have seen this first hand at FarmLot 59. This is a learning opportunity, research and find out why this happened so it doesn’t happen again. As I continue to grow my own food, I now know that produce or vegetables aren’t going to grow perfect. Don’t be afraid of weirdly shaped vegetables. As consumers we need to be better when it comes to food, buy what you need, shop what is in season, compost food instead of tossing it, grow what you can, and support local farms. It now irks me when I see people throwing food away because I have personally spent my time and energy to grow fresh food. It is hard and overwhelming work but if more people got out to see how it actually works, maybe they would be more respectful and appreciative of the work that goes into in (specifically small urban farms).
ReplyDelete- Lizzete Huipe (370 Sec 2 - Fall '21)
Dillon Thomas HM 370 - Fall 2021
ReplyDeleteI'm not entirely sure what can be done to stop or reduce the food waste that occurs in the farm or in transit, but at retail and in the consumers hands, there is much that can be done. As a consumer I have noticed there is always large and vast amounts of produce on display and although I'm not certain of how much gets sold, I'm sure the stores have that data. They could alter their displays based on their consumer data to reflect the demand and supply enough as to reduce the amount of waste they will have when they get more fresh produce. Consumers should also learn that the aesthetic of food doesn't always reflect the quality and throwing it away based solely on the look of food is not smart money-wise or waste-wise. The amount of food that wouldn't be wasted could be used to for supporting lower-income households and would reduce the stress of the industry producing this food and could lead to a beneficial side effect, like taking some weight off. One last thing that consumers can do is use proper portion sizes when it comes to food. We have the nutrition labels for a reason and they have govt. approved serving sizes on them, we should use them some more. We need to get out of this mentality of large portion sizes as all the food we overeat could be given to someone who is being underfed. Simply reducing the demand for food would theoretically reduce the price of food, in turn making it more affordable for low income individuals and groups. We simply need to be more efficient with the food we make such that everyone can be fed efficiently.
Food waste is something I can't stop seeing. Whenever I buy groceries, I hate to see any food go to waste. Sometimes it's pasta or white rice or milk. But it's always there. Spoilage is another form of waste I see regularly. This blog is another reminder that food waste is a problem that is common among everyone. You can be rich or poor and have an issue with waste. The good thing is you can be rich or poor and make a difference. If we as individuals remember to respect the 4 pillars of food security many of these problems can take care of themselves. For example, food utilization. If people make delicious food (recipes), the food is less likely to go to waste. I know when I cook good food. It tends to be eaten faster than I want it to. Cooking recipes at home lower the life cycle cost (the cost of resources) of that food since it's all being used as intended.
ReplyDeleteFood waste has been a significant issue in my country, Japan, too even though many foods are imported from other countries. Japanese people throw away a lot of food while there are many people who suffer from starvation. The cost to handle food waste is too expensive. In 2002, Japan established food bank (Second Harvest Japan) that focuses on reducing food waste, improving food security, and providing food for the poor. However, food banks faced money issues for keeping this project. The Japanese government has enacted a new law that aims to create awareness of the food loss issues, to improve resources to food banks, and to cut the food waste cost. At a personal level, I have tried to fix products or to make a long shelf life in order to not throw away food because it broke my heart every time I threw away food. For example, when I got a cantaloupe melon that was hard and bland, I made a compote for saving the cantaloupe that was almost going to be trash, and I could keep the cantaloupe longer than fresh in a refrigerator because the cantaloupe cooked in syrup.
ReplyDeleteFood waste is a very concerning aspect of our society. The amount of food wasted is absurd and is a major violation of pillars of food security. I have worked at many restaurants and was always shocked at how much food would be thrown out on a nightly basis. The food would not always be bad, but was still thrown out if slightly old but not past expiration, overcooked, taken to the wrong table, sent back to the kitchen, "not presentable" or any other slight inconveniences. I would often inquire about giving some of the wasted food to the homeless, but companies would be apprehensive in fear of someone suing due to getting ill from free food. Restaurants often would even have an issue with feeding their employees for free with leftover food. A lot of times tossing food is the first thought when sharing the food should be the immediate response. I agree with some of the solutions from the post like sharing food with neighbors and adjusting the portion sizes. If more food is shared and portions are smaller there is less chance for waste. We have to do better in this area.
ReplyDeleteFood waste is a huge problem in the whole world because it is bad for the environment such as climate. It takes loads of water, labor, and land to produce. I used to waste food a lot in the past but I learned some ideas that can help reduce food waste. First, before going to the supermarket, I always write down a list and I only buy the things on that list. The reason is because I always buy things I didn't plan to buy (unnecessary things). I started to store food correctly to keep food longer. For example, I keep potatoes, tomatoes, or garlic at room temperature. I always save all of my leftovers to eat it again for the next meal. It saves me a lot of time and money. Another idea is that when I eat fruits or veggies, I will try to eat the skin instead of throwing it away. I always keep my serving sizes in check. It is also very important for people to understand expiration dates. For example, “Best by” is just a suggestion date that consumers should use their products by. It means that if the food passed the “best by” date, we still can consume it. What I learned from the article is that we can also share our excess food with our neighbor, or compost food waste.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post and it was relatable. Composting food waste is something I learned to do very recently in my backyard. It feels really good using food that is usually thrown away to give back to the earth through composting.
DeleteFood waste is something I see everyday. From restaurants to dining halls and even at home. I think a good way to reduce food waste at home is to create a grocery list. When people go grocery shopping without a list they are more likely to buy unnecessary items or overestimate and buy too much groceries. By doing so, they end up having leftovers and it goes to waste. Another way to reduce food waste is by creating your own compost at home. Spoiled food or food going to waste can be used for your compost and can act as a natural fertilizer. This can be used as a resource going straight back to the earth creating no harm and reducing waste. In my HM 370 class, I am currently growing fresh produce at home. Growing your own produce at home is helpful to the environment because you get to grow and use how much you need at the moment. It also reduces trips to the grocery store which prevents over buying.
ReplyDeleteFood waste is an ongoing problem all around the world and even though their are solutions, people either neglect them or don't know them. I for one have been a victim of food waste and I've found many solutions to help or prevent food waste. I would either buy too much food or forget about the food I buy and it spoils. Learning about how not wasting food can benefit the environment and how I can preserve food for a longer time has changed my mindset in a way where I will start to meal prep and think ahead before buying food. Composting, meal planning, At-home canning method, Repurpose leftover method, and refrigerating or freezing foods can all be solutions to food waste. Now every time I go grocery shopping I always carry a list of food that I know I will finish within a week. My awareness and knowledge of food items has helped me prevent food waste.
ReplyDeleteJaslyn Mer Hm370
ReplyDeleteA common issue within communities all around the world would have to be food waste. We tend to buy excessive amounts of food for many reasons. Some include the need to have extra produce on hand or the psychological effect of being at a grocery store and overbuying items without thinking about it. Eventually, the amount of produce bought isn't being entirely used up, resulting in wasting food. A start could be thinking of meals and recipes before going to the market to buy produce. This could help reduce unnecessary items being included in your shopping cart. This would not only help decrease the act of food waste, but also help you spend less money than you would've. If we as a community can begin to break these bad habits we could reduce the extreme amounts of food waste we produce.
Samuel Hall HM 370
ReplyDeleteWe have become exceedingly wasteful as a culture. We overindulge, go out to eat and order too much, or flat out don’t use food that we lose in our refrigerator. While they may seem small for just our individual household, collectively, we waste as much as we eat. There is a major American population that go hungry and don’t have access to food, let alone healthy food. Large industrial farms produce foods and an expiated rate, diminishing it of quality and nutrients, but is it to load their pockets and sell as much product as possible regardless of the risks? Or is it because our wasteful culture seems to up our own demand? Of course, it’s probably a bit of both, but it starts with the consumer to lower the bar of demand and reevaluate what is necessary for consumption. Of course, there is a wide health concern for America for overeating, but wastefulness falls right in suit. There are many options (as posted in the blog) that can help us to reduce the waste, but since I have become a father and a husband, I have learned to be more conscious of finances. That doesn’t mean that I buy cheaper foods, as they are usually far lower in nutrients, but using every bit of food that I possibly can. I will take older bananas and make banana bread; I will take older fruits that may have bruises and turn them into jams, pie fillings, or even dehydrate them for healthy snacks. If I feel like bread is getting stale, I can cut it up, season it and turn it into croutons or breadcrumbs. Even bags of potato chips that are just down to the crumbs can be collected and made for a delicious exterior to fried chicken. There are creative ways to use every but of food that I find very fun. I have donated time to food banks and have become more aware than ever of the importance of being waste conscious. The food that I waste could go to someone who sorely needs it. If we all did our part in correcting it, we could make our communities better, and even get industrial farming to rethink the way that they mass produce foods.
I love this blog post because the topic of food wastage seems to be never ending and in dire need of a solution. After reading I am compelled to be part of that solution and the actions given are not only practical but simple enough for a busy full time working, college student like myself to commit too. There were a few facts stated that I found quite interesting, for example I didn't realize how impactful the process of growing and distributing food was to food sustainability efforts and that if corrected on a large scale it would be quite a solution. Additionally, I have been under the impression that donating unused food was illegal as it may lead to a potential lawsuit, however, this newfound knowledge of the Good Samaritan Law proves otherwise. This content was as informational as it was intriguing, and I look forward to reading more productive content such as this!
ReplyDeleteIn my HM 370 class, we’ve discussed food waste and creating a sustainable food system quite a bit, but WOW! I did not know that reducing food waste by just 15% could feed more than 25 million Americans. One action I’ve taken to combat food waste is by ordering less food when I go out. When I go out to eat, I tend to over-order and that food is just thrown away. Now, I bring my food home and try to incorporate it into a recipe of some sort. If people use the triple bottom line approach, a more sustainable food system can be achieved. It will definitely take time, but I think it can be accomplished if we are to take into account people, planet, and profit. Volunteering at a food bank has really put food waste into perspective. I think it’s great that people sacrifice their time to make sure that food isn’t thrown out and it’s put into the hands and plates of people who are in need.
ReplyDeletePeople would say that eyes are bigger than one’s stomach. This means when someone takes a lot of food that they can not even handle. I am currently working at the All you can eat sushi place, and I see food waste so much daily. Growing up, my mom always taught me not to waste resources, such as food, water, energy. So food waste is my biggest pet peeve. Despite this, I do make some food waste too. For example, I put leftover food in my refrigerator and forget to consume them. So I prefer to put leftover food in the freezer than in the refrigerator. That is a lot of food portions. I think many restaurant owners are too scared of getting sued because of food donations. However, Good Samaritan law could protect owners who are hesitating to donate. It was such an informative post.
ReplyDeleteThe United States definitely has a food waste problem. Food scarcity is a myth, especially with 30-40% of all food supply being wasted. There are so many people that live with food insecurity while grocery stores toss away all their un-purchased goods. When I volunteered at soup kitchens, we would get tons of leftover groceries from grocery stores. The food was either nearly expired or only had minor aesthetic flaws, but they were always completely safe to eat. Even at home, my cooking habits are not the best and I would love to start composting. I am really excited about the new composting law in California that requires residents to separate organic material from trash. It’s great to see there are new solutions since this blog was posted!
ReplyDeleteFood waste has been a problem in our society for many years.With 30-40% of all food being wasted, it leaves the supplier needing to produce more. I definitely see a lot of food items in the grocery stores going to waste. Many college students like myself are subject to leaving spoiled food in the fridge too long when our schedules get too busy. I've found that meal prepping is an efficient way to plan out what you will eat throughout the week. When a surplus of food is stored in your house, it's always a good idea to donate to the local food bank or homeless shelter.
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ReplyDeleteAustin Espinoza
The blog “How food is grown, harvest, and distributed plays a critical role in the nutrients delivered to the consumer” stood out to me. I try to play in more fruits and vegetables into my diet, but I do not shop for organic or locally grown produce. I was aware that mass production of produce is grown with chemical fertilizers and pesticides but was not aware that it decreases the nutritional value of the produce. I see the importance of making food accessible, but not if there is going to be a nutritional loss for the consumers. I recently started volunteering for Long Beach Community Table, where I deliver some organic groceries. One time I had an experience where I could not find the person that I needed to deliver too, so I decided it would be best to give it to someone in need. Now thinking back to that time, I wonder if he has ever had organic produce. I wonder if he felt more nutritionally satisfied, and energized. Society needs to come together to do what is best for our bodies overall. Eating sustainable foods will make big changes in everyone health.
I actually just recently started paying closer attention to my food waste and how I can work to reduce it starting at the end of this summer. I caught myself buying produce, ingredients, or just other food items that I would use a little bit of for a recipe or for some weird food craving I had in the moment and then I never touch those items again. Those items of course would go bad and I would half to throw them away. I would always feel really guilty throwing those items away, as I dealt with food insecurity when I was younger, and at one point I decided enough is enough and I am going to take huge steps to decrease my food waste. Now when I buy ingredients for a certain recipe I am making, I try to use the excess ingredients in some other dish so they won't just sit in my fridge waiting to go bad. Also, if I find myself hungry but I have nothing ready made that I want to eat, I've been working on getting more creative with the food I make in order to utilize what I already have instead of buying more food that I might not eat all of. After making this small change, I definitely notice a huge difference in my food waste and I feel like this is something that would benefit many people and most definitely benefit those struggling from food insecurity. I also agree that by buying produce or food items from imperfect foods would be a huge help. There's nothing wrong with those food items, they just don't look aesthetically pleasing, which is really sad that we throw out perfectly normal food because of this. One other thing I want to start doing to help decrease food waste in not only my household but in the city as well is using the falling fruit website. This website can help you find trees or bushes growing on public property that are growing fruits and other produce. Down the street from where I live, there is a house with a decently big pomegranate tree in their front yard and my roommates and I are planning to ask the owners if it would be alright if we could take some since they are going to waste just falling off the tree.
ReplyDeleteMaddie Lamb | HM370 | Spring 2023
ReplyDeleteOne idea that I have was mentioned to me by one of my university professors, which is a company called Imperfect Foods. This is an amazing company doing their part in overcoming our excessive food waste. They offer produce that is considered “ugly” or has quirky shapes, sustainably sourced products, meat and dairy alternatives, health concious snacks and more. These products are also offered at a lower cost and can be delivered to your door. This is a great option for those who have little time to purchase groceries or may choose a frozen over fresh item due to the higher price. Similarly, the Good Samaritan Law is a great policy in place that allows organizations to provide excess food to others before throwing it into our landfills.
This year I began meal prepping and creating meal schedules at the beginning of each week. I plan out all of my meals, including those I pack for my work lunch. I have gotten the hang of chosing the right amount to make each week to portion out the meals and prevent anything from spoling before I am able to eat it. While it may take more time to make all of the meals, there are so many great recipies online with one-pot meal prep ideas that can save people so much time. I think this is an amazing way for people to reduce their weekly food waste. The key is to know the right protion sizes for you!
The tip regarding vinegar helping produce get rid of harmful bacterias and allow it to last longer was something that I had never heard of! I began washing my produce with vinegar about a year ago, after deciding I would rather use that than a chemical spray from the store. I noticed my produce lasting longer than before, but did not know that it was due to the vinegar, so I definitely learned something new today. This has definitely made a difference in the amount of food waste I produce, as I have a little more time to eat my produce. This is a tactic that not only allows you to clean your produce well, but also allows it to last longer and reduce the risk of wasting it.
Lastly, I would like to mention a compost bin for your home. There is so much food waste that occurs in homes due to it being scraps that we cannot consume –for whatever the reason may be. I think having a compost is incredibly important to reduce food waste in the home. This is a simple way for people to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint. Because food waste is one of the main factors of solid waste, I definitely think these ideas are a great way for people with busy lives to start their reduced food waste journey’s.
I noticed that I often buy more than I use whenever I go grocery shopping, which led to a lot of food being wasted. I don't keep a good track of when the products I buy will expire and tend to forget that I have them. I normally always have leftovers after cooking and leave the meals in the fridge only for them to sit there for days. One way I can prevent a lot of food waste is to portion the food I make and only buy what I need. I also started to keep track of what I buy recently and write the expiration dates along with when I bought the products on the whiteboard I have on my fridge. For the community, when I would visit my family at the farm or the greenhouse we have, all the extra produce we have would be donated to churches and homeless people, or we would leave a box out for anyone to take as much as they would like.
ReplyDeleteI have actually begun to do some research regarding the amount of food waste there is from our grocery stores and was able to learn that a lot of the waste done at grocery stores is mainly due to the cosmetics of the produce. A lot of consumers will not pick an item if it looks damaged, I am also guilty of doing this because when shopping for produce I look for the fruit or vegetables that have little to know bruising or discoloration. I think an idea that can help reduce food waste is by becoming more conscious of how we pick our food, I feel like being conscious makes you become more creative of your recipes. For example if we see a bruised apple in the store we might not pick it if our intention is to eat the apple raw, but if you were making an apple pie where the apple is going to be cooked, then it is completely fine to choose the bruised apple because you won’t be able to notice it was bruised once it is cooked. The same can go for foods at home, an overripe banana may not be appealing on its own but it would go great in banana bread.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize it but subconsciously whenever I go to the store, you typically don't go for the fruits or vegetables that look or feel "damaged." And I didn't realize I was contributing the that population that allows vegetables to go to waste because I am being picky about food that's going to be cooked anyways. I think more people should be aware of other ways to shop that don't include much waste of product but also of nutrition. It is important that the food we get is not only full of nutrients but also that we reduce the amount of food we are wasting. It does feel bad to be aware of the supermarkets that will just throw away fruits and vegetables that don't get sold instead of donating them to people that need them because if that food is going to get thrown out, they should at least give it to people that can use it or be conscious about how to get ride of it and be sustainable.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that 30%-40% of total food supply is wasted. I noticed when I worked in fast food that we would have so much food waste, but it never came across my mind just how much food is wasted in a day. I agree that there are numerous ways to help prevent such mass food waste. One of the things I have been trying to maintain more often this year is eating leftovers as long as possible before they get bad. Not only does that help eliminate food waste, but it also helps create fun ways to play with the leftovers. An idea that I think would help reduce food waste in my home is making smaller food portions rather than the full food portions that I am used to eating.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy to think about how 30-40% of total food supply is wasted due to trivial things such as the aesthetic of food or over-purchasing/spoilage. I recently have seen some advertisements for a website that sells the unappealing or "ugly" produce that are still good to eat and have thought about purchasing from that site so I think other people should give it a thought too. Additionally, it's shocking how just 15% of our food waste could feed 25 million Americans especially since there are such high rates of homelessness and hungry people who need food. I always make an effort to make sure most of my food does not go to waste by either sharing my food with someone else or if not I take my leftovers and leave them outside in a bag for someone who needs it to take. Composting food is also a great option which I recently learned more about after volunteering at CSULB's Grow Beach Garden. The garden on my campus has two large compost bins that we till and water every week so that we can use the soil for the plants. There are definitely various ways for every individual to help reduce food waste whether large or small contributions.
ReplyDeleteIt’s concerning to learn that we are wasting 30-40% of the food supply. The most essential resource to all of life is all but a consequential “free-for-all” that has plagued our food system. The public eye is blind to the fact that the resources needed to improve production account for this staggering percentage. It’s obvious when we go shopping for groceries, we don’t immediately go for damaged or spoiled produce. However, this aspect of our conscience is not aware of the consequences. And honestly, how could we? The food that is not “aesthetic” enough gets wasted, and the food chain suffers. It’s concerning to realize that if we cut food waste by 15%, we could feed 25 million more mouths. However, it’s not an easy task to tell Americans to go for the “ugly” produce. It just doesn’t work like that. All of us play a role in influencing the food chain and the amount of influence it has on our economy, environment, and the very food we consume. That’s why industrialized agriculture (intensive production of animals and crops) is so relevant the more we demand food. And when we don’t use all of it, it pushes us even deeper down this hole we can’t find our way out of. Our desire for more instead of what is necessary is what drives overconsumption. Being aware of this destructive mentality is the first stepping stone for improving and stabilizing our food system. Finding a way to maximize the potential of “unwanted” produce and being aware of how much food we individually waste is a path of improvement and refinement. But it all starts with each of us doing our part to improve as a whole.
ReplyDeleteIf we as a community help reduce 15% of food waste, it is possible to feed up to 25 million americans and that is amazing. I did not realize how much food was being wasted daily. I can count myself in when it comes to food waste and I dont think much of it, although after reading this blog I realized how it can affect our community as a whole. One way to prevent food waste in my home is by having a menu each day and only going to the grocery store and buying the ingredients needed for that specific dish and it has worked wonders for my family and I. Also, if we have leftovers we make sure to eat those left overs and pack it as a lunch for work. Food waste can be prevented starting at home, and my big rule is only buy what we need and know we will eat. Usually if we see we wont eat something, before it goes bad we will probably give it to another family memeber or make something out of it; for example if our bananas are going bad we will make banana bread. These different ways of preventing food waste will definetly make a difference.
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