Poverty rate increases from time to time. Many people are getting hungry around the world, yet research reveals how food in America are being wasted and thrown in the land-fills. Study shows that nearly one-quarter of the food Americans acquired end up being thrown away. 97 percent of those wastes are thrown away in landfills which can cause greenhouse emissions.
Dana Gunders, a staff scientist mastering in food and agriculture at the Natural Resources Defense Council wrote a new book Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook which provides a number of suggestions to food buyers regarding food waste management. In her book, Gunders recommended planning, shopping and food storage tips to reduce the amount of food being thrown away and wasted in every household.
Gunders stated that the purpose of the book she wrote is never knew and has always been common and that is to eduacte Americans of the importance of food by considering the amount of energy, water and work that were used to create them.
HuffPost had asked Gunders about what influence her to focus on the Food Waste management in her recent book. Gunders had provided these three reasons.
"There are really three answers to that question. The first is that consumers are responsible for a huge portion of the food that's getting wasted. I think of the book as information and inspiration. It has very specific information that can help you figure out how to store your tomato or whatnot. It also describes a mindset and a way to go about managing your food and a mentality I hope people will adopt. I'm trying to impact directly the food wasted in households."
"The second reason is that a lot of the waste happening in the food industry, in grocery stores and restaurants, is happening because they're trying to keep their customers happy. In trying to get this information out to consumers, I'm also hoping to really bring some social license to the restaurants and grocery stores so they can do things a little bit differently and waste less food themselves. Out here in California where I live, you are starting to see signs popping up on restaurant tables saying, "Because of the drought, we won't bring you water automatically, but we will if you ask." I similarly could envision restaurants saying, "We won't bring you bread automatically, but if you want it, please ask because we don't want it wasted." Things like that change the expectation a little bit and allow them to do things differently. "
"The third reason is that consumers are people too. I think reaching people as people can have a great ripple effect in that the people then go to work and are operating in their lives and may be inspired to bring the message of wasting less into their workplace and other spheres of influence, wedding planning or party hosting or whatever it is."
When asked about one advice she could give to Americans to prevent throwing out of food, Gunders suggested that before checking out on the counter, a person should carefully examine her groceries and think carefully about when she would consume the food. Gunders recommended on not buying the food if one cannot determine when she'll eat them. Gunders added, "I like to say that no matter how organically or sustainably we grow our food, if we don't eat it, it's a waste of resources."
