Perfection Culture Contributing to Food Waste

According to the EPA the largest single component of landfills is discarded food, and one government report says that one-third of all foodstuffs is wasted in the U.S. according to a story by The Guardian.

The London paper interviewed approximately 30 farmers, processors, shippers and more to understand the scope of why so much food is wasted.

The most common reason is what is described as a culture of perfection in which retailers will reject shipments were the food is imperfect since Americans won’t buy it despite no negative impact on nutrition or quality.

Jay Johnson a food shipper in North Carolina and Florida told the paper, “It is either perfect or it gets rejected.”

Food waste impacts not only Americans who do not get enough food to eat, but also fruits and vegetables in landfills release methane which is a contributor to global warming.

The paper reported that there are some retailers and other organizations that are trying to either offer imperfect produce for purchase or to use in charitable work.