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- Food & Beverage
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- AwarenessEnvironmentFood
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- International
- Date change rule:
- Every April 26
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Stop Food Waste Day, observed annually on April 26, calls attention to the critical global issue of food loss and waste. With roughly one-third of all food produced worldwide going uneaten, this day serves as a powerful reminder to adopt sustainable practices. Take action by planning meals, composting scraps, and supporting initiatives that rescue surplus food.
Want to sponsor Stop Food Waste Day? Learn how
Expected Stop Food Waste Day Deals
Stop Food Waste Day on April 26 is a prime opportunity for brands and organizations to amplify their commitment to sustainability and food security. Look for grocery chains like Whole Foods Market and Kroger to highlight their waste reduction efforts, offer tips for consumers, and potentially partner with local food banks for donation drives. Companies such as Imperfect Foods and Too Good To Go often run special promotions or expand their service areas to rescue more ‘ugly’ or surplus food. Non-profits like ReFED and the Food Recovery Network will be central to educational campaigns and advocating for policy changes, encouraging donations and volunteerism. Expect restaurants to feature ‘zero-waste’ menus or partner with apps to sell unsold food at a discount. We will update this page with confirmed live initiatives as April 26 approaches.
Platform Guide for Stop Food Waste Day
Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #StopFoodWasteDay. Share your company’s sustainability initiatives or best practices for reducing food waste in the workplace.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #StopFoodWasteDay. Organize a community event, share family-friendly tips for reducing kitchen waste, or promote local food recovery efforts.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #StopFoodWasteDay. Post visually appealing tips for food storage, creative recipes using leftovers, or highlight how you’re reducing waste in your home.
Stop Food Waste Day Hero
Tristram Stuart
History of Stop Food Waste Day
Humans, particularly in America, weren’t always responsible for the massive amounts of wasted food and food products. Centuries ago, before Europeans migrated and settled in the land occupied by Native Americans, food wastage was an unknown concept. Native Americans, who primarily hunted and gathered for their meals, were well-known to use every part of a slaughtered animal; hides were used for clothing and shelter, brains were used to tan the hide, and even bones were used for tools to sew or dig holes. Rarely did anything edible or usable go to waste.
The early pioneers echoed this story. Settlers moving westward in the new continent, the pioneers of the late 1800s, were faced with scarce resources and harsh conditions so they adopted many similar practices to eliminate food waste. The pioneers were sometimes even known to donate food, though before this they would use the lard for soap, and even make use of parts of an animal’s body like the head and feet.
The modern concept of food waste as we conceptualize it today was created in the boom before World War 1 — industrialization. Suddenly, food and goods that would have been challenging and expensive to obtain were being churned out and processed with such alarming speed that they lost their precious value. Industrialization made it easier for people to accept waste because they knew there would be more available the next day and, that too, at an affordable price. However, new sanitation systems still used food waste in creative ways, and people recycled what was possible, often out of necessity.
World War II, in many ways, marked the end of scarcity. Towards its end, rationing ended, the Depression was over, industry was booming, and new materials and waste disposal practices made it easy to chuck whatever you had, buy a new one, and feel secure with the “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. At this time, food waste began to take off — there was no longer a need to repurpose it, and disposal of perfectly good resources was becoming widespread.
Today, food waste is a rampant problem — almost half of the food produced in the United States goes to waste. This means there are 80 billion pounds of good food simply sent to the trash! With this trend came great inequities, since millions of people experience hunger and starvation every day. There are roughly 219 pounds of wasted food per person per year. How will you change your number?
Stop Food Waste Day timeline
Before the English came to America and set up shop along the East Coast, Native American tribes used the land to its fullest extent, rarely wasting any part of the animal they hunted or the food they gathered.
Similar to the Native Americans that they were ousting, the first settlers used the entire animal they hunted and killed.
Shortly before the First World War, the boom of industrialization changed not only America’s economy but the global one.
After the end of World War II, food became cheaper to produce and less expensive to waste.
Over 80 billion pounds of food is thrown away in the U.S. each year, and by some estimations, nearly 40% of food produced will go to waste.
How Businesses Can Celebrate Stop Food Waste Day
Local businesses can make a significant impact on Stop Food Waste Day by implementing and promoting waste reduction strategies. Restaurants can introduce ‘ugly produce’ specials, offer smaller portion sizes, or partner with local food recovery apps to sell surplus meals. Grocery stores can highlight imperfect produce sections, provide tips for proper food storage, and donate unsold but edible food to shelters. Even office environments can participate by encouraging employees to bring reusable containers, educating on composting, and optimizing catering orders to minimize leftovers.
Stop Food Waste Day FAQs
When is Stop Food Waste Day?
In 2027, Stop Food Waste Day is observed on Monday, April 26, setting a strong tone for the work week to prioritize sustainable food practices. It’s a key date for businesses and institutions to review their waste reduction goals.
How much food is wasted globally each year?
Estimates suggest that around 17% of total global food production is wasted annually, with households accounting for 11% of that figure. This highlights the urgent need for systemic changes and individual actions to curb this colossal loss.
What are the biggest sources of food waste?
While waste occurs from farm to fork, consumer behavior in households and food service sectors are significant contributors. Plate waste, expired groceries, and unused leftovers in homes, alongside overproduction and inefficient inventory management in restaurants, are primary drivers of food waste.
What simple steps can individuals take to reduce food waste?
To combat food waste, try to embrace ‘ugly’ produce, learn creative ways to repurpose leftovers into new meals, and practice portion control. Supporting local food banks with surplus food donations also helps ensure edible food reaches those in need rather than landfills.
How to Observe Stop Food Waste Day
Stock your refrigerator smartly
Humans can’t help it, our animal instinct is to buy more food than we need. However, if we want to reduce our food waste, it’s our job to fight the instinct! Instead of buying in bulk, plan what you’ll need for the week and make sure you have the means to store it.
Store food correctly
Food spoilage accounts for over 60% of food waste! Learn to store your perishables correctly, or invest more heavily in frozen or nonperishable foods. Did you know that potatoes, tomatoes, and onion should never be refrigerated?
Eat the extras!
From leftovers to the skins on fruits and veggies, there is often so much more edible food in a meal than you think. Too often, skins on fruits, vegetables, and chicken are peeled off and go to waste — don’t miss out on the nutrients! Another great way to reduce your food waste is to feast on leftovers.
5 Interesting Facts About Food Waste
There are millions starving
If we lived in a world without food waste, experts believe we would be able to feed 3 billion more people — that’s a lot more than the 925 million who are estimated to go hungry today.
Wasted water is expensive
Annually, uneaten food wasted ¼ of our water supply — to the tune of $172 billion.
Landfills create methane
We’ve all heard of methane, the greenhouse gas that’s pumping the gas on global warming even more than carbon dioxide — food rotting in landfills produces a huge amount of this dangerous chemical.
Fruits and vegetables are the most wasted
Some of the most perishable foods — fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers — go to waste more than any other variety of food.
Ugly food gets tossed
A significant portion of food that is wasted is done so simply because grocery stores don’t find it aesthetically appealing enough to shelve.
Why We Love Stop Food Waste Day
It teaches us new things
There are many ways to avoid food waste! This holiday makes us more aware of our habits and teaches us tips and tricks on where we can cut back wasteful practices.
It reminds us to give back
Food waste hurts the millions of people who go hungry every day and hurts the producers of food. There are ways to support these groups by donating your time or money! Today is a great day to look into helping those who don’t have enough on the table.
It combats an important environmental issue
Food uses a colossal amount of water, energy, transportation, and labor to produce, ship, and distribute. When food goes to waste, it creates a massive and completely avoidable loss of resources — not to mention the millions of people who go hungry every day.
Social Media Tips for Stop Food Waste Day
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