What if I told you
45 million people in the U.S. struggle to provide food for their family each year.
That's right. 45 million people.
For the millions of families that battle food insecurity, the problem seems unsolvable.
It is not.
You can be part of the solution.
40% of food in the US never gets eaten.
In pounds, that's
And that number has only increased (1.5x) in the last 50 years.
An understanding of our waste can help us provide a solution to one of our most pressing problems: making sure there is enough food for everyone in America.
A lot of the food we waste is visible to us and it is wasted for many reasons:
Each year, this adds up to $2,275 in trashed food for the average American family of four. But the food waste in our home is only one part of the problem.
Grocery stores are the next
big piece of the puzzle.
They too waste part of the food they purchase because of different reasons.
Overstocking their shelves
Expecting aesthetic perfection
Expecting fresh produce to be available until closing time
Using unregulated, aggressive ‘sell-by’ dates
Tossing foods that don’t sell well (but are still edible)
Often being understaffed (less staff to prepare food)
Up to 39% of raw materials are thrown out in the processing stage, just because they're
A former President of Trader Joe's said,
Everyone loves fully stocked stores and beautiful food,
(who doesn’t love a perfect strawberry?) 
With 45 million people struggling to feed themselves, every bit of food matters.
This problem is not unsolvable.
You can make a difference.
HOW?
Food for Free is an organization that rescues food that would otherwise be thrown away and distributes it to those in need. In the last year, Food for Free distributed 2 million pounds of food to help feed over 25,000 people. Donate to help Food for Free prevent waste and feed those in need.
The Food Recovery Act proposes ways to tackle wasted food and hunger in America through restaurants, schools, farms, and at home. This legislation would help reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. Sign the petition to show your support of the Food Recovery Act and push Congress to take action.
As consumers, we tend to forget how big of an impact we have. Preparing our meals and shopping lists with more care can make a huge difference. Pledge to stop overshopping by sharing this badge (and spread the message with others).
You can help 45 million people by preventing food waste.
So remember:
1
Donate to Food for Free
2
Sign the Food Recovery Act
3
Pledge to stop overshopping
