The Estimated Amount, Value, and Calories of Postharvest Food Losses at the Retail and Consumer Levels in the United States

by Jean C. Buzby, Hodan Farah Wells, and Jeffrey Hyman

In the United States, 31 percent-or 133 billion pounds-of the 430 billion pounds of the available food supply at the retail and consumer levels in 2010 went uneaten. The estimated value of this food loss was $161.6 billion using retail prices. For the first time, ERS estimated the calories associated with food loss: 141 trillion in 2010, or 1,249 calories per capita per day. Errata: On June 27, 2014, Tables 2, 3, and 5 were updated to correct some incorrect values. The errors did not affect summary totals in the tables or report findings.

Keywords: Food waste, food consumption, food loss, food recovery, foodservice, recycling, plate waste, processing

In this publication...

• Entire Report
• Report summary
• Download zip file for EIB121