The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a national strategy that will drive progress toward the national goal of reducing food loss and waste in the U.S. by 50% by 2030. 

Food is the single most common material found in U.S. landfills. More than one-third, nearly 100 million tons, of the municipal waste stream, is organic waste and food comprises sixty-six million tons of that waste. 

The Draft National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics identifies opportunities to reduce food loss and waste across the entire supply chain.

"The FDA supports the mission to reduce food loss and waste. While we look forward to our continued partnership with USDA and EPA, we also want Americans to feel empowered and confident in their ability to play a part in that mission," says FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. "We encourage the public to comment on practical ways everyone can play a role in reducing food waste."

This Strategy is a deliverable in the Biden-Harris Administration's National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, released in conjunction with the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in September 2022. 

The draft strategy features four objectives:

• Prevent the loss of food where possible.
• Prevent the waste of food where possible.
• Increase the recycling rate for all organic waste. 
• Support policies that incentivize and encourage food loss waste prevention and organics recycling.

This effort will also provide social and economic benefits, including the potential to:

• Increase food access for food-insecure Americans and increase the recovery rate and donation of wholesome food, such as through the emergency food system.
• Create new jobs, industries, and sectors of the economy.
• Increase supply chain resiliency.
• Deliver financial savings to households, which can also help address the needs of underserved communities.

The public comment will begin on December 5 and will remain open for 30 days. Share comments through Regulations.gov, Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0415.