ADVERTISEMENT

    Study Finds That People Blame Everyone Else for Food Waste

    Food waste and food insecurity are two of the nation’s and the world’s biggest problems, and one is constantly working to feed the other. Ohio is working with several food conservation efforts, the most recent of which is a bill that would incentivize businesses to donate their leftover food.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    A recent study by PLOS One found that between 30 and 35 percent of the nation’s food is wasted annually, robbing each person of 1,250 calories every day. Food falls through the cracks in each step of the production process, farm to table. According to the study, if food waste were reduced, supply would increase, food prices would fall, and food insecurity would follow.

    Through a food scraps initiative, localized composting efforts, and a recent bill aimed at incentivizing restaurants to donate excess food, Ohio is making small steps toward reducing its own food waste.

    House Bill 111, introduced mid-last year, would give 10 cents for each pound of excess food restaurants donate to food banks and related organizations, ultimately contributing $500,000 a year to food waste reduction. However this incentive would only last two years, and as it is, household waste still contributes much of the state and nation’s overall food waste.

    “If the United States is to reach its recently announced goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030, U.S. consumers must be an integral part of any successful plan, either by directly altering their household food waste behaviors or by inducing other actors in the food supply chain to reduce food waste,” the study concluded.

    The PLOS One study recommended relabeling food packages to dissuade people from tossing out perfectly good stuffing, applesauce or pancake mix. They found that 70 percent of people surveyed agreed that throwing out food after the package date would reduce their risk of contracting a foodborne illness when there is no corresponding scientific evidence. The dates on the packages are referring more to the freshness or quality of the food rather than the safety.

    No bills exist yet in Ohio to change the way dates are labeled, although there is momentum behind GMO labeling legislation.

    People will also throw away food when their children don’t like it or if they buy too much during a sale. Related Ohio EPA findings show that if wasted food were to be composted rather than sent to a landfill, “greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by more than 21.5 million metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent.”

    “This savings is equivalent to the removal of more than 4 million cars from the roadways each year, conserving more than 2 billion gallons of gasoline, or providing annual electricity needs to more than 2.5 million homes,” it continued.

    Still, half said they didn’t think they contributed to the problem as much as everyone else, and almost a quarter of the people surveyed said they didn’t have time to worry about food waste and its effects on the environment. As it is, House Bill 111 hasn’t budged from the Ways and Means Committee since last March.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    Flavortown Fest Has Been Canceled

    Guy Fieri won't be partying it up in Columbus this summer after all. The Flavortown Fest, originally slated for June 1 and 2 at the CAS lawn, has been cancelled.

    Cheap Eats: 5 Happy Hours for $5 and Under

    Columbus is good at a lot of things, but...

    The Confluence Cast: Tacos by the Truck

    The capital city’s food scene is often heralded. However, its taco truck scene has been often overlooked. Elwood Ellis, a freelance writer for Columbus Underground and self-proclaimed Taco Connoisseur, is trying to change that.

    The Sweet Treats Dessert Festival Returns! (SOLD OUT)

    The Sweet Treats Dessert Festival is back for its 8th year! Join us at The Turbine Hall at the Power Plant on Sunday, January 28th.

    The Top 25 Columbus Restaurants of 2023

    There are far too many amazing restaurants in Columbus...
    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
    ADVERTISEMENT