America wasted 31 percent of its available food supply in 2010. That's right . . .of the 430 billion pounds of food produced by American farms that eventually reached the supply chain, 133 billion pounds went uneaten in 2010, estimated USDA Economic Research Service researchers. Of that total, 10 percent, or 43 billion pounds, spoiled at the retail level, while 21 percent (90 billion pounds) went uneaten once in the consumer's hands.
Of the 133 billion pounds of food waste, dairy topped the list with 25.4 billion pounds or 19 percent. In a virtual tie, vegetables accounted for 25.2 billion pounds. Following closely behind were grain products at 18.5 billion pounds, or 14 percent, and fruit at 18.4 billion pounds.
Unfortunately, that food, once unused, has been ending up in landfills.
When looking at total municipal solid waste in 2010, food accounted for 14 percent. That was its rank before recycling efforts. Once recycling was factored in, 21 percent of all municipal landfill waste was food. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that less than 3 percent of America's food waste was recovered and recycled. It costs America an estimated $1.3 billion to landfill the unused food each year.
To read a copy of the entire study, click the link.
