Revised On: Nov. 27, 2023 - 1:00 p.m.

While more than 41 million U.S. citizens face hunger, including nearly 13 million children, an estimated 30 to 40 percent of food is wasted in this country.  Food waste also creates fresh water and energy waste, and contributes to emissions from landfills and combustion facilities. While food waste is the number one contributor to the nation’s landfills, the USDA estimates the value of food loss for retailers and consumers each year to be over $161 billion.

We can all help reduce the amount of food waste we create by changing our habits. The following resources can help:

The Food Recovery Challenge provides tools for grocery stores, restaurants, cafeterias, etc., to reduce food waste and properly manage scraps | Learn More >

The Food Too Good To Waste program provides tools for families to help reduce their food waste as well as save money over time | Learn More >