This article describes how much greenhouse emissions are behind the food we eat, and how it is important to be more thoughtful about how much we use and don’t use. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, if food waste was a country “it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gasses after the U.S. and China”, and families aren’t just to blame. A lot of the food that doesn’t reach mouths are thrown out by the producers for minor deformities.

This article is a great supplement to the Omnivore’s Dilemma as it shows how much waste we produce outside our trash and typical carbon emissions. However, it also does a great job in explaining corporations responsibility for the waste, and does not place all the blame on consumers. The most surprising fact is that 40% of food is wasted after it is harvested and before it makes it to homes. Not only are there people starving in the world who would appreciate the food, but the amount of carbon that goes into planting and harvesting food plays a major role in climate change. This demonstrates a need for environmental regulations limiting how much food waste producers and consumers are allowed to create as well as a system to put some of the waste into proper use.