In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimated that 66 million tons of wasted food was generated and 60% of this went into landfills.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated in 2010 that 31% of food was wasted, amounting to a loss of $162 billion.
Globally, the United Nations estimates that around 1/3 of all food is lost or wasted, amounting to nearly eight percent of total greenhouse gas emissions.
Meanwhile, it is estimated that approximately 815 million people worldwide go hungry each day, while hunger in total affects around 11 percent of the global population.
It is estimated that 155 million children under the age of 5 are underdeveloped and stunted, often a direct cause of lack of nourishment and food insecurity.
On the contrary, in the United States, obesity rates between 2017-2020 equated to around 41.9%, an increase from 30.5% in 1999-2000.
People with obesity have a higher chance of type two diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and up to 13 different types of cancer. It is one of the leading causes of preventable and premature death.
In 2019 alone, the medical cost of obesity in the United States amounted to $173 billion.
Fewer than 1 in 10 children and adults eat the recommend daily amount of vegetables.
40% of all US households do not live within 1 mile of healthier food retailers.
Anemia affects 40% of children younger than 5 years of age and 30% of pregnant women globally.
These basic facts are why it is imperative that there are comprehensive solutions globally to tackle the issue of food waste and food insecurity. Climate change as well as greenhouse gasses cause disastrous affects for humanity, other living organisms, as well as the planet . Food insecurity and lack of access to affordable and nutritious food increase risk for several chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, mental health disorders, and others.
We believe it is time to ACT NOW to curtail the global atrocities caused by food waste and food insecurity.
Sources
Sources: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) , United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), United Nations Environment Program, The Borgen Project, Center for Disease Control and Prevention