In a striking contradiction, 15 million children in the United States go hungry, even as we discard an astounding 40% of our food supply. Recently, France’s Parliament took an extraordinary step by passing a law that prohibits supermarkets from throwing away unsold food. Instead, they are required to donate all edible items to charitable organizations. This initiative is a brilliant solution that deserves to be replicated worldwide. However, consumers also play a pivotal role in curbing food waste.
It’s shocking to think that while so many Americans struggle with hunger, perfectly good food is tossed into landfills. Approximately one-third of the food produced globally is wasted, despite the fact that we have enough resources to eliminate hunger entirely. Sadly, in the U.S., a significant portion of food waste can be traced back to confusing expiration dates. Many people, including those who work in grocery stores, often misinterpret the terms “sell by,” “best by,” and “use before.” According to a report from Market Watch, these dates are not indications of food safety but rather guidelines for retailers and estimates from manufacturers.
How often have you hesitated to give your child yogurt simply because it was a day or two past the expiration date? I know I have, even when it appeared and smelled perfectly fine. The World Bank estimates that nearly half of North America’s food production—42%—is wasted, often due to the conscious decision to throw food away.
Supermarkets contribute to this issue by destroying unsold food in a rather shocking manner—by pouring bleach on it before disposal. The former food minister in France, Jean Dupont, expressed outrage over this practice, stating, “It’s scandalous to see bleach being poured into supermarket bins along with edible foods.” Under the new French law, any food deemed unsellable but still safe for consumption must be donated, and larger stores face hefty fines or even jail time for non-compliance. Unsold food that is unsafe for human consumption will be redirected to farms as animal feed or compost.
With supermarkets accounting for 10% of food waste, implementing legislation to govern how they discard food is a positive move forward. Nonetheless, we can all do our part—by buying only what we need, savoring our leftovers, and making informed judgments about food quality instead of relying solely on misleading expiration dates. Composting can also serve as a powerful tool to understand how much food we waste and how much money we’re throwing away.
Here’s a staggering fact: “We produce enough food to provide every individual on Earth with 2,700 calories a day. Yet, 842 million people still go to bed hungry.” This situation is simply unacceptable.
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In summary, addressing the issue of food waste while so many children face hunger is crucial. Legislative changes, alongside informed consumer choices, can help create a more equitable food system.