Food waste: by the numbersFood waste: by the numbers

You’ve probably heard the staggering statistic that 40 percent of food gets wasted in the U.S. Widespread waste costs major dollars and taxes precious resources—a real tragedy when you consider how many Americans and people worldwide are hungry. Here are some sobering numbers.  

$165 billion: Total value of food Americans throw out each year

50%: Increase in amount of food Americans toss today compared with 1970s-era waste

20 pounds: Amount of food per person that goes uneaten every month

52%: Amount of fruits and vegetables wasted by Americans, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders

25%: Part of U.S. methane emissions that comes from discarded food rotting in landfills

$100 million: Annual savings for East Coast chain Stop & Shop once it addressed freshness and shrink in its perishables department

How can your store cut back on waste? Author Jonathon Bloom tells how here.