Food waste refers to food that is intended for human consumption but is not eaten and is discarded or lost somewhere in the food system. Food waste can occur at any stage of the food system, including production, processing, distribution, retail, and consumption. Food loss, on the other hand, refers to unused product from the agricultural sector, such as unharvested crops. Food waste can be categorized differently based on where it occurs:
- Food loss: Occurs before the food reaches the consumer as a result of issues in the production, storage, processing, and distribution phases.
- Food waste: Refers to food that is fit for consumption but consciously discarded at the retail or consumption phases.
Food waste has far-reaching effects, both nationally and globally. In the U.S., up to 40% of all food produced goes uneaten, and about 95% of discarded food ends up in landfills. Food waste has significant effects on the environment, global and national economies, food security, and nutrition. Food waste can be managed in a variety of ways, such as donation to feed people, creation of animal feed, composting, anaerobic digestion, or disposal in landfills or combustion facilities.
