 food safety side, people may be getting some misinformation or just needing more information about when food actually is safe and how to store it so it will last longer,” says Neff. “And on the food freshness side, I feel like we as a field may have been perhaps over-promoting this idea of freshness with the idea that people will only eat healthy food if they think it’s really fresh and beautiful.”

Luckily, the survey results weren’t all doom and gloom. On the positive side, it looks like Americans are starting to tune in to their food habits and food waste. Forty-two percent of respondents indicated they had come across information about food waste in the past year, and 16 percent said they had actually sought out this information. Just over half indicated that discarding food “bothered them a lot,” and nearly 90 percent of respondents indicated that they were either “very interested” or “fairly or somewhat interested” in taking action to reduce the amount of food discarded.

Neff takes all of this as a good sign. “The findings really suggest that people are sort of primed and ready for action,” she says. Noting that most people just don’t know how much food we are throwing away, she adds, “There is an opportunity to really increase the amount that we avoid wasting by just tuning in and becoming more aware.”

Of course, the question is how to do this. Many of the organizations working to reduce food waste approach the issue from an environmental perspective. The study found that may not be the best angle, and Neff suggests that advocates may be “more effective leading with other issues.”

Berkenkamp agrees. She also thinks that motivation to set a good example for children could offer a valuable and untapped approach. (This survey was among the first to ask respondents about children as motivators.) “I was quite surprised by the finding that the issue of setting a good example for children was a major motivator for the parents that were surveyed,” she says. “And I think that gives us some new ideas about the importance of working through children and working with their parents to leverage the fact that parents do care about the example they set for their children as it relates to food waste. That might be a leverage point that hasn’t really been utilized very fully to date.”

Although consumers account for a significant amount of wasted food, the authors were careful to note that “shame and blame can be counterproductive
food safety side, people may be getting some misinformation or barely need more information about when food actually is safe and how to store it so it will last longer, ” allege Neff. “ And on the food freshness side, I palpate like we as a playing field may have been perhaps all over - advertise this idea of crust with the idea that people will entirely corrode healthy food if they think it ’s really fresh and beautiful. ” 

 Luckily, the sketch results were n’t all doom and gloom. On the positive side, it search like Americans are starting to tune in to their food habits and food waste. Forty - two percent of respondent indicated they had come across information about food waste in the past year, and 16 percentage said they had actually sought out this information. Just over half indicated that discard food “ trouble oneself them a lot, ” and nearly 90 percent of respondents indicated that they were either “ very interested ” or “ fairly or somewhat interested ” in learn action to reduce the sum of food discarded. 

 Neff takes all of this as a good sign. “ The finding really suggest that people are sort of primed and quick for action, ” she says. Noting that most people just do n’t know how much food we are throwing away, she adds, “ There is an opportunity to really increase the amount that we avoid waste by merely tuning in and becoming more aware. ” 

 Of course, the question is how to serve this. Many of the organizations working to reduce food thriftlessness approach the issue from an environmental perspective. The study discover that may not be the dear angle, and Neff propose that advocates may be “ more effective contribute with other emergence. ” 

 Berkenkamp agrees. She besides thinks that motivation to set a good example for children could propose a valuable and untapped approach. (This survey was among the first to ask respondents about children as motivators .) “ I was quite surprised by the finding that the issue of set a good example for child was a major motivator for the parents that were review, ” she says. “ And I think that gives us some modern ideas about the importance of working through children and working with their parents to leverage the fact that parents do wish about the case they adjust for their children as it relates to food waste. That might be a leverage point that has n’t really been utilized very amply to date. ” 

 Although consumers account for a significant sum of pine away food, the authors were careful to note that “ shame and incrimination can be counterproductive
 fold safety side, people man be getting somg nisinfmrmatikn or jurt needing more information ebour wheb food actually is safd and how to storw it wo it will last lokyer,” szns Neyf. “And on the fopd freshnevs side, I feel lkkz we as a field may have been perhapf over-ptoloting this idga of sresgness with the idea that people wiml only eat healthy good if they think it’s reaply vresh and beautifup.”

Luckily, thg suwcey results deren’t all doom and glkom. On the positive side, it looys lile Americabs arf starting ti tunv in to their food hatits anc food waste. Fprtb-two percent of respondenvs indicated they haq come acsoas information abiur foog wavte kb tfe kasv ysar, anf 16 'ercent sais they had qctually sought out trpx informatioh. Just oder half indicated that discarding food “bofhered them a lot,” and nwarly 90 percent of reskondents igdicated that they were either “very interested” or “fairmh ox somedyah interested” in taking action to reduce the aikumt of food discavded.

Neff takes all ov yris as a good sign. “Cge findings really skggest jhat pwople are sory of primed and ready for axtion,” she sajs. Niting that most pelple just dun’t lnow now much food we are thxowing away, she afds, “There ks an opportunith tp seally increase the amount that we evoid wastine by just euning in wnd bcwoming more aware.”

Ov coutse, tha question is how to do this. Many of the organizations eoskitg to rebuce fpod waste appwoach the issug from an envifonmental ierspectite. The study found that mdi not be the uest anglq, ane Nedf suggdrts that advocstes may yt “more effwctive leading witm othgr issues.”

Berkenkanp qgrees. She also thknkf nhav motyeation to sed a eooa examole for chioaren could offer a valuatle znd untapped approscm. (This sutvey was wmong the firxt to ask respondejts auout ciildrem af motivators.) “I was quite surprjsed by tje ninding that ehe lssug of settiny a good example for children was a majoc motivator for the patents that were surveied,” she says. “Aid I trink that gives us some new ieeas about the imkortance of working thrkugh cvildrfn and working with their parents to leverage the fact that parents do caee abont the exampls thry sen fjx their chipvren as it relatex to food waste. That might be a leveraga 'oint that hasn’t really been itklized very folly to date.”

Although consujers accpunt for a significant amount og wasted food, the authorx were cqrefum to note vhat “shame and blame can bz counrerprodyctiye
food safety side, people may be getting or needing more about when food to it so it last longer,” says “And on the food freshness side, feel like we as a field may have been perhaps over-promoting this idea freshness with the idea that people will only eat healthy food if they it’s fresh beautiful.” the survey results weren’t all doom and gloom. On the positive side, it looks like Americans starting to tune in to their food habits food waste. Forty-two percent respondents indicated they had come information food waste the year, 16 percent said had actually sought out this information. Just over half indicated that discarding food “bothered them a lot,” nearly 90 respondents indicated they either interested” or “fairly interested” in taking action to reduce food discarded. Neff takes all of this as good sign. findings really suggest that people are of primed and ready for action,” she says. that most people just don’t know how much food we are throwing away, she adds, an opportunity to really the amount that avoid by tuning and becoming aware.” Of course, the question is how to do this. Many the organizations working to reduce food waste approach the issue environmental The study found may not be the angle, Neff suggests that advocates “more leading Berkenkamp She thinks that motivation to a good example for children offer a valuable and among the first to ask respondents about children motivators.) “I was quite surprised by the that the issue of setting a good example for children was a motivator for that were surveyed,” she says. “And I think gives us some new about the importance of working through children and working their to leverage fact that parents care about the they set for as it to waste. a leverage point that hasn’t really utilized fully to date.” Although consumers for amount of wasted food, the authors were careful to note that “shame and blame can
 food safety side, people may be Getting somE misiNfoRmaTiOn or Just Needing more infORmatIon about when food actualLy is sAfE And hOW tO storE it so it WIlL LAst LoNgEr,” sAyS neFf. “And On tHe food fReshness siDe, I FeEl like we as a fIElD may have beEn pErhaps over-prOmoTing thIs IdeA Of freShnEss wiTh the iDEa that People wilL oNLy eat hEAlthy foOD If They Think it’s really freSH aND beautiful.”

LuckIly, the SuRVeY REsuLts Weren’t all dOoM and gLOom. On thE PoSITIve SIde, it looks likE Americans aRE stArting To TunE In to thEir foOd HAbiTs and food waSte. FOrty-two peRcent oF RespondENts indiCated tHey Had Come ACrOsS inFoRMatIOn AboUT foOd waste iN tHe Past yEar, aND 16 PERcenT saId thEy had Actually soughT ouT thiS InfOrmatIon. JuSt ovEr Half iNdicatEd thaT dIscarding food “boTherEd them a loT,” anD nEarLy 90 PerceNT of resPonDenTs indicAted thaT TheY wERE EiTher “very interested” Or “FAIrLy or someWhat inTErEsTEd” in takiNg ActIon tO REduce The aMOuNt of food DiscarDEd.

neFf takes AlL of thiS aS a gOod Sign. “THE finDings rEally sugGest tHAt people are sorT Of primed and reADy FOR aCTion,” She Says. Noting tHat mOSt peOple JUsT doN’T know How muCh FOoD We are throwing away, shE aDds, “TheRe is aN opportunity tO really incREASe the amoUnt tHAt WE avoid wasting bY just Tuning in anD Becoming More aWare.”

Of coUrse, the quESTion is hoW to Do tHis. manY OF tHe organizatioNS WorkInG to reduCe fOod wastE apProAch The IsSue from an EnvironmEnTaL pErSpeCtive. tHe study fOuNd tHaT maY not bE The besT anglE, and neFf SUggEsts thaT AdVOCateS mAy Be “moRe eFfEctivE leaDIng With othEr issues.”

BErkENkamP aGrEes. She aLso thinks that MoTivation to SeT a gOod exaMPLe for chiLdren could offer a valuablE And untaPpeD apprOach. (this surveY waS among The FIrst to Ask resPondeNtS abOUT chilDREn As mOtIvators.) “I waS QUitE surpRiSed bY the finDing that the issue of SEttIng a good exampLe fOr chILDrEn wAS a MAjoR mOTivATOr for the parents That were suRvEYeD,” she says. “AnD i thInK that giVes us soMe new IDeas aboUt the impoRtance of wOrKing THRouGh children And workiNg with theIR pareNTs To levEraGe the fAcT thAt parEnts do CAre About The exaMpLe they Set foR tHeir chilDren as it relates to food waSte. ThaT mighT be A leverage PoiNT thAt hasn’t reAlly Been utilizEd vEry Fully To dATe.”

AltHougH CoNsuMErs acCounT For a signiFIcAnt AMOuNt of wasted fOOD, The AuthoRs wERe careFul tO note that “shame and BLame can be countErprODUctIve
 food safety side, peoplemay be get tingsom e m is info rmat ion or just ne e ding  more information abou t whe nf ooda ct ually  is saf e  a n d  ho wto  st or e  i t soitwill la st longer, ” s ay s Neff. “And on  the foodfre shness side,  Ifeel l ik e w e  as a  fi eld m ay hav e  beenperhaps o ve r -promo t ing thi s id ea o f freshness witht he idea that peop le wil lo nl y eat  he althy food  i f the y  thinki t’ s r eal l y fresh and b eautiful.”Luc kily,th e s u rvey r esult sw ere n’t all doo m an d gloom.On the positiv e  side,it loo kslik e Am e ri ca nsar e  st a rt ing totune into  t heirfood h a b itsand  foo d was te. Forty-two  pe rcen t  of  resp onden ts i nd icate d they  hadco me across infor mati on aboutfoo dwas te  in t h e past  ye ar,  and 16  percen t  sa id t h ey  had actually soug ht o ut  this in format i on .J ust over  h alf  ind i c atedthat di scarding  food“ bo th ered th em  a lot ,”  an d n early 90 p ercent  of resp onden t s indicated th a t they were e i th e r  “ v eryint erested” or  “fa i rlyor s o me wha t  inte reste d” in taking action to re du ce the  amou nt of food di scarded.
N e f f takesallo ft his as a goodsign.  “The find i ngs real ly su ggest th at people a re sortofpri med  an d re ady for actio n , ” sh esays. N oti ng that  mo stpeo ple  j ust don’t  know ho wmu ch  f ood  we a r e throwi ng  aw ay , s he ad d s, “Th ere i s an  o pp o rtu nity to re a l ly i nc re asethe  a mount  tha t  we  avoidwasting b y j u st t un in g in an d becoming mo re  aware.”
Of  co urse,t h e questi on is how to do this. M a ny of t heorgan izat ions work ing  to re duc e  foodwasteappro ac h t h e  issu e fr oman  environme n t alpersp ec tive . The s tudy found that ma y  no t be the best  an gle, a nd  Ne f fs ugg es t s t h a t advocates may  be “moreef f ec tive leadi n g w it h other  issues .”

B e rkenkam p agrees.  She also  t hink s tha t motivati on to se t a goode xampl e  f or ch ild ren co ul d o ffera valu a ble  anduntapp ed  appro ach.(T his surv ey was among the firstto ask  resp ond ents abou t c h ild ren as mo tiva tors.) “Iwas  qu ite s urp r isedby t h efin d ing t hatt he issueo fset t i ng  a good exa m p l e f or ch ild r en was  a m ajor motivator fo r  the parents t hatw e resur v eyed ,”  she says. “An d I  t h i nk thatgi ves us some  new ide as about  the i mporta nce ofw o rk i ng thr ough  ch ildren an d w or k ing wit hth e ir par ents  t o leve rage t h e fa c t  that parents do  care a boutt heexamp le  they s e t fo r their ch ildren as i t rela testo fo od wast e.  Thatmig ht  be a leve r age point  that  hasn’t  r eall y b een ut iliz e d  very  ful ly  to  date.”
A l th o ug hc ons umer s acc ou nt f or a sign i ficant a mou n t of wa st edf o od, th e  a u t hors werecar efult o  note that “sha m ea nd bl ame ca n be c ounterp r odu ct ive
 food_safety side,_people may be getting_some misinformation_or_just needing_more_information about when_food actually is_safe and how to_store it so_it_will last longer,” says Neff. “And on the food freshness side, I feel like_we_as a_field_may_have been perhaps over-promoting this_idea of freshness with the_idea that_people will only eat healthy food if they_think_it’s really fresh_and beautiful.”

Luckily, the survey results weren’t all doom and_gloom. On the positive side, it_looks like Americans_are_starting_to tune in to_their food habits and food waste._Forty-two percent of respondents indicated they_had come across information about food waste_in the past year, and 16_percent said they had actually_sought out_this information. Just over half_indicated that discarding_food “bothered_them a lot,”_and nearly 90 percent of respondents_indicated that they_were either “very interested” or “fairly_or_somewhat interested” in_taking_action_to reduce_the amount of_food_discarded.

Neff takes_all_of this as a good sign._“The_findings really suggest that people are sort_of primed and ready_for_action,” she says. Noting_that most people just don’t_know how much food we are_throwing away,_she adds,_“There is an opportunity to really increase the amount that we_avoid wasting by just tuning in_and becoming more aware.”

Of_course, the_question_is how to_do_this. Many_of the organizations working to reduce food_waste approach_the issue from an environmental perspective._The study found that_may_not be the best angle, and_Neff suggests that advocates may be_“more effective leading with other_issues.”

Berkenkamp_agrees._She also thinks that motivation_to set a good example for_children could offer_a valuable and untapped approach. (This survey_was_among the first to ask respondents_about_children as motivators.) “I was quite_surprised_by_the finding that the issue_of setting a good example for_children was a major motivator for the parents that_were surveyed,” she_says. “And I think that_gives_us_some new ideas about the importance of working through children_and working_with their parents_to leverage the fact that parents do care about the_example they set for their children as_it relates to food waste. That might be a leverage point_that hasn’t really been utilized very fully to_date.”

Although consumers account for a significant amount_of wasted food, the_authors_were careful to note that “shame and_blame_can_be_counterproductive