Reducing Wasted Food in Child Nutrition Programs

Joshua Becker

USDA Food and Nutrition Service

• Food waste in the U.S. is estimated at between 30-40

percent of the food supply

• From 2010 ERS data, this corresponds to 133 billion pounds

and $161 billion worth of food

• Substantial economic, environmental and societal impacts

The Challenge

Published in 2015, the USDA and EPA have

teamed up on a goal to reduce food loss and

waste by 50% by 2030 in order to improve

overall food security and conserve our nation’s

natural resources.

The Goal

School Meals (breakfast, lunch, snack, supper)CACFP (pre-K), Summer Meals

Schools spend more than

on food annually

$13 billion

2010 Healthy, Hunger Free Kids ActWhole Grains

LegumesFruits &

Vegetables

Schwartz, M. B., Henderson, K. E., Read, M., Danna, N., & Ickovics, J. R. (2015). New school

meal regulations increase fruit consumption and do not increase total plate waste. Childhood Obesity, 11(3), 242-247.

Cohen, J. F., Richardson, S., Parker, E., Catalano, P. J., & Rimm, E. B. (2014). Impact of the new U.S. Department of Agriculture school meal standards on food selection, consumption, and waste. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 46(4), 388-394.

Prepare Just Enough Food

• Menu planning

• Production records

• Creative sourcing

Make Sure it Gets Eaten!

• Convenient/fun format

• Taste tests

• Student Advisory Committees

• Wellness Policy

• Smarter Lunchrooms

• Time to eat

• Salad bars

• Farm to School

• Offer vs. Serve

Feed More Kids

• Use leftovers in subsequent meal

• Share tables

» Students place food on share table or

cooler after “the line”

» Students can pick up items from share

table at no cost

» May be served during another meal

» May be donated to nonprofit

organization

Share Tables

• Schools can set policies (i.e.

unopened, refrigeration)

• Time and temperature

control

• Comply with local and state

regulations (health and

food safety codes)

• Comply with HACCP plan

Food Donation

• Any program food not

consumed may be

donated to eligible

local food banks or

other nonprofits

• Protected against civil

and criminal liability

through the Good

Samaritan Act

Connect with Farms

• School meal programs can

separate waste and donate

to nearby farms

Donate Used Cooking Oil

Composting

Additional Resources

www.usda.gov/oce/foodwaste

https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-

management-food