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Which Generation Is Most Concerned About Food Waste?
A series of surprising finds from a recent poll. The Lempert Report: Nearly 2,100 Americans were surveyed on their attitudes about and knowledge of food issues. While the majority of Americans have fighting food waste on their mind, many do not know where to begin.
Phil Lempert
March 29, 2019
1 Min Read
The Lempert Report: Nearly 2,100 Americans were surveyed on their attitudes about and knowledge of food issues. While the majority of Americans have fighting food waste on their mind, many do not know where to begin.Photograph: YouTube
You'll be surprised to find out which generation is most concerned about food waste. The latest Michigan State University Food Literacy and Engagement Poll, conducted Jan. 15-21, surveyed 2,090 Americans on their attitudes and knowledge of food issues.
What they found was that the majority of all Americans (88%) say they take steps to reduce food waste at home. This includes 94% of consumers 55 and older and 81% of those under 30. What are they doing?
71% said they try not to purchase excess food.
71% said they often consume food before it spoils.
43% share excess food when possible.
Then there is the other side. Of the 12% of Americans who say they do not take steps to reduce food waste at home:
31% say they do not waste food. Yeah, right.
23% are not familiar with the term "food waste." Yeah, right.
21% do not know how to reduce food waste. Maybe.
20% are not concerned about it. Wake up.
18% do not have the time. Seriously?
"Older Americans pay the closest attention to limiting food waste, compared to their peers," said Sheril Kirshenbaum, co-director of the MSU Food Literacy and Engagement Poll. "Previous waves of the survey have revealed this group also performs best on general food literacy questions."
According to the poll, 48% of Americans say they never, rarely or aren't sure how often they consume genetically modified organisms, often called GMOs.
And 49% say they never or rarely seek information about where their food was grown or how it was produced.
Food literacy, I’m sad to say, is still at a low point.
