Take another look at this previously released fact: Americans wasted 33.79 million tons of food in 2010, enough to fill 91 Empire State Buildings, and a 16 percent increase from a decade ago. The average American wastes 209 to 254 pounds of edible food each year. Meanwhile, more than 17 million American households were considered "food insecure" in 2010, meaning it was difficult to provide enough food for everyone in the family. 46 million Americans, about one in seven people, relied on food stamps.
Americans go hungry in a land of massive food waste
Released Nov. 18, 2012While Americans toss tons of good food into the trash, there are hungry households that don’t get enough.
Sources:
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: "Global Food Losses and Food Waste: Extent, causes and prevention"
- US Department of Agriculture: Household Food Security in the United States, 2008
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Basic Information about Food Waste
- US Environmental Protection Agency: Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Tables and Figures for 2010
- The Official Site of the Empire State Building
- Unit Conversion
What do others say?
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: The Washington Post: “In United States, there’s a lot food being wasted” More
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: Share Our Strength: "Hunger and children in America" More
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: The Washington Post: "Much food goes to waste, which squanders resources and adds to greenhouse gases" More
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Sodexo Food Company: "Food waste - Don't be trashy"Sodexo Foods
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