Pigman, Megan

English

University of Kentucky

May 29, 2013 (/full-blog/2013/05/a-fresh-solution-to-rotten-problem.html)A Fresh Solution to a Rotten Problem: Combating FoodWaste and Hunger in America (/full-blog/2013/05/a-fresh-solution-to-rotten-problem.html)Image Source (http://www.ecomena.org/food-waste-disposal/)By: Megan Pigman, Staff Member  Here are some statistics to chew on: 40% of food in the United States today goes uneaten.[1](http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn1) This means, as acountry, we waste more than 35 million tons of food each year.[2](http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn2) To put it into dollarsigns, we are throwing out the equivalent of $165 billion each year.[3](http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn3) Meanwhile, one in sixAmericans are suffering from hunger each and every day.[4] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn4) Hard to swallow? Former Trader Joe’s President, DougRauch, thought so, which is why he decided to launch the Urban Food Initiative, a program thatwill use food past its sell-by date to prepare affordable and nutritious meals for low-incomeconsumers in Boston.[5] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn5) Rauch’s idea is grounded in the belief that by reclaimingsome of the roughly 47 billion dollars worth of food supermarkets throw out each year, bothH O M E  ( / )S U B M I S S I O N S  ( / S U B M I S S I O N S )A B O U TJ O U R N A L  ( / A B O U T )M AST H E A D  ( / N E W- PAG E )P R O S P E C T I V E  M E M B E R S  ( / P R O S P E C T I V E - M E M B E R S )S U B S C R I B E  ( / S U B S C R I B E )STA F F  R E S O U R C E S  ( / STA F F - R E S O U R C E S )P U B L I C AT I O N SP U B L I C AT I O N  A R C H I V E  ( / P U B L I C AT I O N - A R C H I V E )VO LU M E  1  ( 2 0 0 9 )  ( / VO LU M E - 1 - 2 0 0 8 - 2 0 0 9 )VO LU M E  2  ( 2 0 1 0 )  ( / VO LU M E - 2 - 2 0 0 9 - 2 0 1 0 )VO LU M E  3  ( 2 0 1 1 )  ( / VO LU M E - 3 - 2 0 1 0 - 2 0 1 1 )VO LU M E  4  ( 2 0 1 2 )  ( / VO LU M E - 4 - 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 )VO LU M E  5  ( 2 0 1 3 )  ( / VO LU M E - 5 - 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3 )VO LU M E  6  ( 2 0 1 4 )  ( / VO LU M E - 6 - 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 1 4 )VO LU M E  7  ( 2 0 1 5 )  ( / VO LU M E - 7 - 2 0 1 4 - 2 0 1 5 )VO LU M E  8  ( 2 0 1 6 )  ( / VO LU M E - 8 - 2 0 1 5 - 2 0 1 6 )VO LU M E  9  ( 2 0 1 7 )  ( / VO LU M E - 9 - 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7 )VO LU M E  1 0  ( 2 0 1 8 )  ( / VO LU M E - 1 0 - 2 0 1 8 )SY M P O S I U MI N F O R M AT I O N  ( / SY M P O S I U M )B LO GF U L L  B LO G  ( / F U L L - B LO G )B LO G  A R C H I V E  ( / B LO G - A R C H I V E - 1 )COMMENTS (0)  Subscribe via e-mail0 Likes  America’s food waste and hunger problems could see a positive impact.[6](http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn6)  It sounds like a great plan, so whatß would prevent major grocery stores across America from gettingedible, past the sell-by date foods in the hands of needy families instead of in methane-producinglandfills? Legally speaking, very little. State laws generally do not prohibit the sale of “expired” foodas long as it is safe and wholesome. Companies are not heavily burdened by liability concerns either,thanks to the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act that President Bill Clinton signedinto law in 1996.[7] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn7)Known more commonly as the “Model Good Samaritan Food Donation Act,” the law promotesfood recovery by limiting the liability of donors to instances of gross negligence or intentionalmisconduct.[8] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_edn8)  If donating or selling past sell-date food items is generally not prohibited by state law, surely thesestores are not dumping such massive quantities of food due a broad corporate policy requiring such,right? As it turns out, this is usually not the case. When I questioned a Kroger corporaterepresentative on the issue of their food waste policy, I was informed that decisions regarding what todo with past sell-by date food items is made on a store-by-store basis. If this is the case, then why areso many stores choosing to trash literally tons of still-edible food rather than establish an efficientfood recovery system, which would benefit others on a local and national level? I’m sure there’s agood reason.   To give credit where credit is due, it is not the case that all grocery stores are completely failing us onthe food waste and recovery front. There are many grocery stores across the nation that are makingthe effort to donate non-perishable goods as well items from their bakery to local food banks andhomeless shelters. While their efforts should not be overlooked, there are still greater measures thatcan and should be taken by those in the food industry as a whole to create a less wasteful, lesshungry America for future generations. _________________ [1] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref1) Dana Gunders, Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Forkto Landfill?, National Resources Defense Council (last visited May 28, 2013), http://www.nrdc.org/food/wasted-food.asp#.UaUAR5OznnM.email. [2] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref2) “The Problem,” Food Recovery Network (last visited May 28, 2013),http://www.foodrecoverynetwork.org/about-us/our-work/. [3] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref3) Id. [4] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref4) Id. [5] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref5) Jenna Russell & Jenn Abelson, Putting Expired Foods to Healthy Use, The Boston Globe (Feb26, 2013), http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/02/25/former-trader-joe-executive-wants-sell-inexpensive-prepared-meals-made-from-expired-food/Cyz1TwTAEFbQnWxn0teNsN/story.html?s_campaign=8315. [6] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref6) Id. [7] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref7) Waste Not, Want Not: Feeding the Hungry and Reducing Solid Waste Through Food Recovery,USDA, EPA, 21 http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/pubs/wastenot.htm. [8] (http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8202935745006855383#_ednref8) Id.  ShareNewest FirstPreview  P O S T  C O M M E N T …Newer PostWater Aquifers: A Solution or FurtherNuisance to the U.S. Drought Issue? (/full-blog/2013/06/water-aquifers-solution-or-further_6.html)Older PostStriking a Balance: Modifying the AppalachianCommunity Health Emergency Act (/full-blog/2013/05/striking-balance-modifying-appalachian.html)6 3 1  S O U T H  L I M E S TO N E ,  L E X I N G TO N ,  KY4 0 5 0 8 ( 8 5 9 )  2 5 7 - 4 7 4 7 B LO G . K J E A N R L @ G M A I L . C O M  ( M A I LTO : B LO G . K J E A N R L @ G M A I L . C O M )SEARCHABLE ARCHIVE ( /PUBLICATION-ARCHIVE-1)

A Fresh Solution to a Rotten Problem: Combating Food Waste and Hunger in America

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A Fresh Solution to a Rotten Problem: Combating Food Waste and Hunger in America

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