What you picture food waste to be versus what it really is

I’m not sure what people think of when they think about food waste, but pictured below is just one example. This 8 lb tub of frozen wild sea scallops was part of a whole pallet of these tubs that was rescued by a local food recovery organization. Figuring out how to best distribute 8 lb tubs of sea scallops to those in need is challenging, so most of them have been sitting in the frozen cooler of their warehouse. I was fortunate enough to be volunteering yesterday and was offered one to take home.

I think for most people, thinking about food waste conjures of images of rotting food, or leftovers, or low quality processed products. And to be sure, food waste does include all of those. But, food waste in this country also includes an abundance of high quality and expensive food items. These scallops, which in a market would sell for upwards of $40 per pound, are a prime example of that. But the more I’m involved, the more I see other high quality and healthy items that were on their way to the landfill.

Wild caught frozen fish is a norm at our markets. Organic vegetables is another. Dairy products such as milk and cheese. Endless amounts of canned foods. The list goes on and on.

I think food waste in this country, around the world too I guess, needs a new name. When we’re talking about food waste we are not talking about the little scraps that might be leftover on your plate (although those do count, so make sure to eat everything on your plate!). We’re not talking about rotting food. We’re talking about real food that could satiety and feed real people who need it.

Which is to say nothing about the fact that when food like chicken, beef, pork, and seafood go to waste in a landfill, we’ve wasted a life. An animal was raised on this planet. Used up resources. And gave his life to become food, and still we discard it to the dump like it never mattered.

We’re not doing a good job when it comes to food waste in this country. Getting food waste right, fixing the food system in this country, has the ability to fix so much. Eliminate food insecurity. Improve people’s health, and reducing healthcare costs as a results. Reduce greenhouse gases. Right social injustices. And so much more.

I’m not sure there’s anything more important than solving this issue.