Rotisserie chickens in the trash: I worked in a supermarket and saw shocking food waste every day | Ann Larson
Summary
A former supermarket cashier reveals that stores keep rotisserie chicken cases and bread shelves full to look appealing, leading to large amounts of food being wasted daily. In the US, supermarkets throw out a significant portion of food, contributing to landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions, while many people face hunger and food insecurity.Key Facts
- Supermarkets fill rotisserie chicken cases and bakery shelves to attract customers, throwing out unsold food each day.
- About 31 percent of food waste in the US happens at the supermarket level, equal to 133 billion pounds annually.
- Food waste includes edible but imperfect items and food discarded a few days before expiration dates.
- It often costs more for stores to donate unsold food than to throw it away, so donations are rare.
- Up to 40 percent of food produced in the US is never eaten, causing environmental and economic problems.
- More Americans face hunger and basic needs struggles now than during the pandemic.
- Grocery workers, many of whom are people of color or immigrants, are underpaid and face food insecurity themselves.
- Since 2024, grocery worker wages have dropped by 15 percent when adjusted for inflation.
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