US will waste 267m meals this Thanksgiving: ReFED

US Expected to Waste 267 Million Meals This Thanksgiving

Food systems think tank ReFED reports that approximately 320 million pounds of food will be wasted this Thanksgiving, a slight increase from 316 million pounds in 2024. This wasted food represents a retail value of about $550 million.

The amount of waste this year equates to roughly 267 million meals that could have been provided to people in need, highlighting a critical issue amid ongoing food insecurity and inflation in the US.

Economic and Social Context

Food Waste Drivers and Consumer Behavior

ReFED focuses specifically on food waste at the consumer home level. The rise in food waste during a period of high prices reveals inefficiencies throughout the supply chain, including overproduction and consumer habits, which also have environmental consequences.

“The lost food represents about $550 million in retail value.” — ReFED
“The amount of food going to waste this year represents some 267 million meals that could have gone to people in need.” — ReFED

Consumer habits remain the primary factor driving food waste during the holidays.

Author's summary: Despite rising food costs and ongoing insecurity, millions of meals will be wasted this Thanksgiving due to consumer habits and systemic inefficiencies in the food supply chain.

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AgFunderNews AgFunderNews — 2025-11-03

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