With almost 40% of all food in the United States going uneaten, food waste is an important and relevant concern for many shoppers. Now, two new studies reveal that consumers turn to frozen food to help reduce their food waste footprint at home. Publications from the Cornell University Dyson School of Business and market research firm 210 Analytics cast light on the lower waste rates of frozen food and how consumers are utilizing frozen food to fight back against waste, respectively. Both reports are available to view online here.
“As shoppers and policymakers alike look for ways to reduce food waste, new data show that freezing is an important solution,” said AFFI President and CEO Alison Bodor. “Freezing is Nature’s pause button - preserving foods so families can benefit from the longer shelf-life made possible. Whether enjoying frozen fruits and vegetables, pre-portioned meals and appetizers, or other meal ingredients, consumers rely on frozen food to provide flexibility in meal planning and a convenient way to reduce their food waste.”
A literature review conducted by Cornell University explored the rate of waste among frozen foods in grocery stores and households. This analysis of multiple studies affirmed that, in general, frozen foods are wasted less than their fresh counterparts at both the retail and consumer levels. While the rates of food waste vary among different types of food, among the fruits and vegetables studied, the frozen products are typically much less likely to be discarded than the fresh equivalent.
The study also reported that, when refrigerated foods are discarded, it is commonly due to concerns about spoilage or excess leftovers. Freezing food can help to address these challenges by extending the shelf-life of products and allowing families to prepare exactly what they need.
For more information:
Mary Emma Young
AFFI
Tel.: +1 443-904-3937
meyoung@affi.com
https://affi.org