Thirty percent of Americans are unaware of how much food they waste, according to a survey by the Washington, D.C.-based International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. The top causes of food waste include forgetting about or buying too much perishable food; discarding leftovers after cooking big meals; and not eating everything on their plates.
Of those surveyed, the majority said they are trying to cut down on food waste, with more trying to use leftovers, planning meals in advance, and making shopping lists. “It’s highly unlikely that one-third of Americans play no role whatsoever in food waste,” said IFIC Foundation CEO Joseph Clayton.
The survey also asked about sustainability, with 73 percent of respondents saying it is important food is produced in a sustainable way. However, the definitions of sustainability varied widely from pesticide reduction, conserving the natural habitat, and ensuring a sufficient food supply for the growing global population. Despite the overwhelming support for sustainability, only 38 percent said they are willing to pay more for sustainable food.
Asked about the role of agriculture, 70 percent of respondents said that they view modern agriculture as playing at least a small role in ensuring that all people have access to healthy food; almost half agreed that modern tools, equipment, and technologies in agriculture are sustainable. More than one in two Americans said that modern agriculture produces nutritious (56 percent), safe (53 percent), high-quality foods (51 percent).
The IFIC Foundation’s complete 2016 Food & Health Survey findings and additional information are available online.
