by Michael T. Hertz
Did you know that we throw out 40% of the food we produce? And 25% of the food produced is thrown out by households. Suddenly, though, this waste is starting to get noticed.
The first thing that happened was that Trader Joe’s ex-president started a non-profit that sells surplus and unsold food at very low prices: 99 cents for a dozen eggs, 29 cents for a pound of bananas. There’s only one store so far, and it’s in Boston, but the model may pick up steam.
The second thing that happened was a law enacted in France that requires supermarkets to compost or donate unsold food. Food banks are happy, because this promises to increase donations. “Another law, which went into effect on New Year’s Day, aims to target food waste in restaurants. Large French restaurants are required to offer customers “doggie bags,” or takeaway containers, should they request them.”