MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US families dump 40% of their food every year, says environmental group

Americans throw away nearly half their food every year, waste worth roughly 165 billion dollars annually or 2.275 dollars per average family, according to a study released on Tuesday by the Natural Resources Defence Council

“As a country, we're essentially tossing every other piece of food that crosses our path. That's money and precious resources down the drain,” said Dana Gunders, a scientist with the NRDC food and agriculture program.

The NRDC report said Americans discard 40% of the food supply every year and the average American family of four ends up throwing away an equivalent of up to 2.275 dollars annually in food

Just a 15% reduction in losses in the US food supply would save enough to feed 25 million Americans annually. It also would lighten the burden on landfills, where food waste makes up the largest component of solid waste, according to the NRDC, a non-profit environmental organization.

Particularly worrisome, the organization said, was evidence that there has been a 50% jump in US food waste since the 1970s. Unsold fruits and vegetables in grocery stores account for a big part of the wasted food. But consumers and restaurants are also to blame, preparing large portions that result in leftovers that often go uneaten.

The NRDC said it is asking for the US government to study losses in the food system and set goals for waste reduction. “No matter how sustainably our food is farmed, if it's not being eaten, it is not a good use of resources,” said Gunders.