Centre Region Council of Governments launches campaign aimed at reducing food waste
Amid this unprecedented time, Centre County residents have transformed their daily routines including the way they shop and plan their meals. COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, social distancing guidelines and food item limits along with possible financial implications due to the pandemic are having a ripple effect on the way people think about food consumption and food waste.
For many years, food waste has been viewed as an environmental issue. In fact, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that if food waste was a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases after the United States and China. In the U.S., food waste accounts for 21.5% of tonnage in landfills.
However, right now in Centre County households, food waste is far more than just an environmental issue. Now more than ever, food is also a matter of finances. A Penn State study found that food waste is costing the average household about $1,866 per year. Under the uncertain financial constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Centre County residents are looking to do more with less.
In an effort to heighten awareness of the environmental and financial impacts of food waste, the Centre Region Council of Governments launched a “Know More. Waste Less. Eat Well.” campaign on April 20. The goal is to help residents be more resourceful and adopt a more strategic mindset with their grocery shopping and meal preparation habits.
Food waste experts at the EPA and USDA suggest that simply planning your meals out in advance and making a shopping list are easy ways to be more mindful of food waste at home. The circumstances surrounding the pandemic have changed how consumers are shopping. Stay-at-home orders are encouraging shoppers to shop less frequently, which may lead to buying in bulk and stocking up on items. While shopping in bulk may be strategic, it can lead to food waste from uneaten leftovers and spoiled produce, both impacting families’ grocery budgets. That’s where CRCOG wants to help.
“Centre County residents can shop smart, save money and eat well with easy shifts in how they think about food prep, storage and waste,” said Shelly Mato, administrator for the CRCOG Refuse and Recycling Program. “Understanding food labels and food storage is a great place to start.”
Food labels, such as best-by, use-by, and sell-by dates, can be confusing, but in order to waste less citizens must know more. The USDA defines these food labels below:
Best-By: This suggests to the consumer the date by which the product should be consumed by to assure peak quality and best flavor.
Use-By: A directive that marks the last date recommended for the “use” of the product. This does not necessarily mean the item will make you sick if eaten after this date.
Sell-By: The sell-by date informs retailers of the date by which the product should be sold or removed from the shelf. Passing the sell-by date does not mean a product is unsafe to consume.
Food storage is another topic that CRCOG’s “Know More. Waste Less. Eat Well.” campaign addresses with tips on how to store fruits and vegetables so they stay fresh longer, both preventing food waste and saving money; it’s a win-win. A series of “Food for Thought” tips such as, “Food for Thought: wait to wash berries until you want to eat them to prevent mold,” serve as reminders to help community members extend the life of their groceries.
The CRCOG Facebook page is sharing these weekly facts, tips and resources on food waste. Here you can find recipes that make the most of leftovers, online videos and movies about the environmental impact of food waste, and more. CRCOG invites the community to share their food waste tips by using #FoodWasteFriday on social media to show the ways they are getting creative reducing food waste at home.
Visit sites.google.com/view/foodforthought-cog/home?authuser=0 to find out more about CRCOG’s “Know More. Waste Less. Eat Well.” campaign, or contact Shelly Mato, CRCOG Refuse and Recycling Program Administrator, at smato@crcog.net with any questions.