According to a recent estimate, Americans waste 160 billion dollars per year on food, 30-40 percent of the US food supply. Food is the single most significant component taking up space inside American landfills.
Bravo Alexander, a great topic. And yes, fresh foods are bundled in such away that one buys to much or can be used in time, before it spoils. If the price per pound is listed you can take the Broccoli head bundle apart and take a couple of stalks. Ask the manager to re-weigh the amount of Broccoli you're buying, and put a new price label on it. It can be done with other produce products also, like a Celery bundle. If I need a couple of Celery leafstalks I pull two from bundle and buy only those two leafstalks. It is a bit of a hustle with getting the manager(or other staff) involved but it is a legal procedure. People are often trapped with bundling tactics, we buy more than we need out of politeness even when we are strapped (short on funds).
I absolutely hate wasting food. It's so wrong being that there's so many hungry people in the world. With that said I wish I could say I never throw food away, but I do sometimes. As you stated sometimes you have to buy things in large portions. That's very hard when you live by yourself as I do. I typically don't waste a lot of food but I'm bad with milk. Just today I threw away about a third of a gallon of milk. And I have an entire half gallon of almond milk that needs to be tossed. That was my fault I bought it intending to make smoothies and never did.
Very relevant topic as Earth Day approaches. From various sources the use by date is only a suggestion to be used by the consumer to get the optimal best flavor from the product. The shelf life where it is still safe to use can be far longer.
Part of the problem of food waste is that consumers believe produce must look beautiful. Growers dump those products which don’t make that mark. That is a waste. I find I waste very little food. Only buy what I need and use it all. I prefer to buy my produce in small amounts and luckily the store I use provides that. Still wish for the good old days of the green grocer where there was no plastic packaging.
Great newsletter, very relevant topic. It's been quite an adjustment living on my own in terms of amount of food to buy. I hate large packages, they're impossible to finish on my own and not everything can be frozen. I've managed to reduce my food waste to nearly zero since moving in October. I buy less food (except for chocolate, but I'm Swiss and it never lasts long enough to go off anyway) and I also buy food that is about to pass its "sell by" or "best before" date, because it would otherwise get thrown out. I know people who just throw food away without even checking if it's still edible. That's shocking, especially if it then amounts to $1,600 worth of food a year.
Those labels you shared look very complicated. What's the point? Not very helpful at all. I just checked a bunch of mine and they seem to be making a lot more sense.
I so fully understand & agree with you! In the US I have the same frustration with the markings for expiration dates on products. They’re often illegible due to other package markings or hidden in obscure places if you can find them at all. Quantities in packaging are often more than I can use & ends up spoiled. With so much hunger in this country & others I feel guilty having to throw away food. Food waste is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed for environmental, ethical & monetary reasons. Thank you for giving this attention.
Bravo Alexander, a great topic. And yes, fresh foods are bundled in such away that one buys to much or can be used in time, before it spoils. If the price per pound is listed you can take the Broccoli head bundle apart and take a couple of stalks. Ask the manager to re-weigh the amount of Broccoli you're buying, and put a new price label on it. It can be done with other produce products also, like a Celery bundle. If I need a couple of Celery leafstalks I pull two from bundle and buy only those two leafstalks. It is a bit of a hustle with getting the manager(or other staff) involved but it is a legal procedure. People are often trapped with bundling tactics, we buy more than we need out of politeness even when we are strapped (short on funds).
I love that! Great tip. Where do you live?
. . . at this moment in time, US (-:
I absolutely hate wasting food. It's so wrong being that there's so many hungry people in the world. With that said I wish I could say I never throw food away, but I do sometimes. As you stated sometimes you have to buy things in large portions. That's very hard when you live by yourself as I do. I typically don't waste a lot of food but I'm bad with milk. Just today I threw away about a third of a gallon of milk. And I have an entire half gallon of almond milk that needs to be tossed. That was my fault I bought it intending to make smoothies and never did.
Very relevant topic as Earth Day approaches. From various sources the use by date is only a suggestion to be used by the consumer to get the optimal best flavor from the product. The shelf life where it is still safe to use can be far longer.
Part of the problem of food waste is that consumers believe produce must look beautiful. Growers dump those products which don’t make that mark. That is a waste. I find I waste very little food. Only buy what I need and use it all. I prefer to buy my produce in small amounts and luckily the store I use provides that. Still wish for the good old days of the green grocer where there was no plastic packaging.
Great newsletter, very relevant topic. It's been quite an adjustment living on my own in terms of amount of food to buy. I hate large packages, they're impossible to finish on my own and not everything can be frozen. I've managed to reduce my food waste to nearly zero since moving in October. I buy less food (except for chocolate, but I'm Swiss and it never lasts long enough to go off anyway) and I also buy food that is about to pass its "sell by" or "best before" date, because it would otherwise get thrown out. I know people who just throw food away without even checking if it's still edible. That's shocking, especially if it then amounts to $1,600 worth of food a year.
Those labels you shared look very complicated. What's the point? Not very helpful at all. I just checked a bunch of mine and they seem to be making a lot more sense.
I so fully understand & agree with you! In the US I have the same frustration with the markings for expiration dates on products. They’re often illegible due to other package markings or hidden in obscure places if you can find them at all. Quantities in packaging are often more than I can use & ends up spoiled. With so much hunger in this country & others I feel guilty having to throw away food. Food waste is definitely an issue that needs to be addressed for environmental, ethical & monetary reasons. Thank you for giving this attention.