Food is the most important output of our agricultural system. Unfortunately, a staggering amount of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten, ending up in landfills instead of nourishing human bodies. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of food waste in the United States.
1. What percentage of the U.S. food supply goes to waste?
A. 10% to 20%
B. 30% to 40%
C. 50% to 60%
2. In the year 2017, how much food waste was generated by American households?
A. 17 million tons
B. 22 million tons
C. 41 million tons
3. What category of product gets thrown out most frequently?
A. Dairy
B. Fruit
C. Vegetables
4. How much food does the average American family of four waste per year, in terms of cost?
A. $700
B. $1,000
C. $1,500
5. Misreading labels is one of the biggest reasons people throw food away. What percentage of Americans throw away perfectly good food because they misunderstand expiration labels such as “sell by” and “use by”?
A. 30%
B. 50%
C. 80%
6. What are some ways you can reduce food waste at home?
A. Utilizing leftovers
B. Composting food scraps
C. Both of the above
Answers: 1: B; 2: C; 3: A; 4: C; 5: C; 6: C
