Food Waste is the action of throwing away perfectly good food because it is considered not fit to eat. This differs from food loss, where food is lost unintentionally such as a banana falling out of the back of a truck when it is being shipped.

Food Waste is a continuing problem for humanity, especially in industrialized countries. Every year, 222 million tons are consumed in industrialized nations while in the United States, food and organics are the second most disposed item in landfills.

—

Other Sources

David Suzuki Foundation. “Help end food waste.” David Suzuki Foundation. http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/food-and-our-planet/help-end-food-waste/. Accessed August 2, 2016.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States. “Food Loss and Food Waste.” Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/en/. Accessed August 2, 2016.

United Nations Environment Programme. “Food Waste: The Facts.” World Food Day. http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/food_waste_the_facts. Accessed August 2, 2016.