November 2009 PMID 19946359

The progressive increase of food waste in America and its environmental impact.

Kevin D Hall, Juen Guo, Michael Dore, Carson C Chow

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Mentions

200
Peak: 14 in Nov 2022
across 6 sources since Jul 2019

Extended reach

1,667,283
potential audience

Total likes

7,518

Video views

429,291

Mentions per month

Jul 2019 – Jun 2025

Where it's discussed

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  • Facebook24 posts
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  • Reddit3 posts
  • YouTube2 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

This collection of posts reflects active engagement with the article’s themes, such as the link between increasing food availability, waste, and environmental impact, exemplified by references to water resource usage and the historical trend of food surplus. The tone varies from analytical to inquisitive, with some posts emphasizing the importance of understanding how food waste contributes to broader ecological and health issues.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the article's findings on the rise of food waste and its environmental impact, indicating moderate agreement with the published conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

Posts show high interest, referencing detailed data, trends since 1974, and links to original research, demonstrating an engaged audience seeking to deepen understanding.

EngagementModerate engagement

Several contributions pose nuanced questions, cite related studies, and discuss implications for obesity and resource waste, reflecting moderate to high levels of engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

The discussions highlight significant environmental and health consequences, emphasizing water use, calorie oversupply, and resource waste, suggesting the findings are seen as impactful.

Abstract in brief

  • Food waste in the US has increased by about 50% since 1974, now averaging over 1400 kcal per person daily, which equals around 150 trillion kcal annually.
  • This waste contributes significantly to environmental issues by using up freshwater and fossil fuels, and releasing methane and CO2 emissions from decomposing food, impacting climate change.
  • Currently, food waste makes up more than 25% of freshwater use and consumes around 300 million barrels of oil each year in the US.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s is due to gradual shifts in the BMI distribution. Food availability (quantity & quality) is the likely culprit https://t.co/8HXKVc3C0S https://t.co/Vhu7AswIUf https://t.co/7qR8vwkyJc

Feb 2, 2023 · 56 likes · 5 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only ~1/3 of the increase of calories in the food supply, with ~2/3 being wasted. There's a calorie oversupply & distribution problem! https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa https://t.co/jYQEuyFOxH

Jun 12, 2024 · 53 likes · 13 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
John Speakman
@JohnSpeakman4 · X

Previous work showed that increasing levels of food supply was probably enough to explain rising levels of obesity https://t.co/izTGpFlUx3 but an issue with these data is separating increased consumption from increased waste @KevinH_PhD 3/ https://t.co/J9u1gfz7Jv

Apr 26, 2023 · 37 likes · 2 shares · 11,994 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed foods. Of the increased calories available since the 1970s, two-thirds were wasted and one-third accounts for the rise in US obesity: https://t.co/E7Qhq5Mt6I https://t.co/k8o3dzR5wA

Nov 15, 2022 · 29 likes · 14 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
Crémieux
@cremieuxrecueil · X

Original paper: https://t.co/EiGObESfQz

Jun 1, 2025 · 18 likes · 2 shares · 281,332 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

@GardnerPhD Great news! Food waste has been an interest of mine for more than a decade since we accidentally discovered how much it has increased over time, with important environmental consequences: https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa

Mar 23, 2021 · 12 likes · 3 shares · 38,751 followers View post →

All mentions

Prof Peter Collignon
@CollignonPeter · X

RT @cremieuxrecueil: Original paper: https://t.co/EiGObESfQz

Jun 1, 2025 · 2 shares · 12,996 followers View post →
Chip_Trenckmann
@chip_trenckmann · X

RT @cremieuxrecueil: Original paper: https://t.co/EiGObESfQz

Jun 1, 2025 · 2 shares · 112 followers View post →
Crémieux
@cremieuxrecueil · X

Original paper: https://t.co/EiGObESfQz

Jun 1, 2025 · 18 likes · 2 shares · 281,332 followers View post →
Pati M
@PatiM2 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 13, 2024 · 13 shares · 4,204 followers View post →
Dr Alo, DO, FACC
@MohammedAlo · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 13, 2024 · 13 shares · 12,862 followers View post →
Mind Your Science!
@MindYourSci · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 13, 2024 · 13 shares · 130 followers View post →
Jan Vyjidak
@janvyjidak · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 13, 2024 · 13 shares · 4,140 followers View post →
Harriet Carroll: Long Covid Scientific Consultancy
@angryhacademic · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 8,805 followers View post →
Agnes Ayton
@AgnesAyton · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 7,422 followers View post →
Christian Tams MS RD LDN
@ChristianTams · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 1,252 followers View post →
Deirdre Tobias, ScD
@deirdre_tobias · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 9,609 followers View post →
Neil Floch MD
@NeilFlochMD · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 130,191 followers View post →
Frédéric Leroy
@fleroy1974 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 29,196 followers View post →
Gregory Miller, Ph.D.
@drdairy50 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 10,728 followers View post →
Eve Beavers Fain is espacetimeCO
@espacetimeCO · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: 15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only…

Jun 12, 2024 · 13 shares · 910 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

15 years ago, we discovered US food waste progressively increased ~50% since the 1970s. Increased weight accounted for only ~1/3 of the increase of calories in the food supply, with ~2/3 being wasted. There's a calorie oversupply & distribution problem! https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa https://t.co/jYQEuyFOxH

Jun 12, 2024 · 53 likes · 13 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
Bruce Waynejrv
@Bob_Stinson1234 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Sep 18, 2023 · 14 shares · 5,139 followers View post →
Manu Gupta
@_mgupta108 · X

RT @JohnSpeakman4: Previous work showed that increasing levels of food supply was probably enough to explain rising levels of obesity htt…

Apr 27, 2023 · 2 shares · 1,397 followers View post →
Dr Murphy WeightLoss
@TakeWeightOffMD · X

RT @JohnSpeakman4: Previous work showed that increasing levels of food supply was probably enough to explain rising levels of obesity htt…

Apr 26, 2023 · 2 shares · 7,031 followers View post →
John Speakman
@JohnSpeakman4 · X

Previous work showed that increasing levels of food supply was probably enough to explain rising levels of obesity https://t.co/izTGpFlUx3 but an issue with these data is separating increased consumption from increased waste @KevinH_PhD 3/ https://t.co/J9u1gfz7Jv

Apr 26, 2023 · 37 likes · 2 shares · 11,994 followers View post →
Alexander
@Alex_Hiden_ · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s i…

Feb 3, 2023 · 5 shares · 2 followers View post →
Joachim's Training
@TrainingInNYC · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s i…

Feb 2, 2023 · 5 shares · 758 followers View post →
Abraham
@abmathewks · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s i…

Feb 2, 2023 · 5 shares · 1,435 followers View post →
Tío Terrón
@AriesTerron · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s i…

Feb 2, 2023 · 5 shares · 26,053 followers View post →
Natália
@natalia__coelho · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s i…

Feb 2, 2023 · 5 shares · 2,192 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

Average weight & height have gradually increased for a very long time. Acceleration of obesity prevalence (BMI>30) in 80s is due to gradual shifts in the BMI distribution. Food availability (quantity & quality) is the likely culprit https://t.co/8HXKVc3C0S https://t.co/Vhu7AswIUf https://t.co/7qR8vwkyJc

Feb 2, 2023 · 56 likes · 5 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
Shortcut U
@SHRTCTU · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 29, 2022 · 14 shares · 51 followers View post →
Greg Potter
@GregPotterPhD · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 24, 2022 · 14 shares · 919 followers View post →
Neil Floch MD
@NeilFlochMD · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 18, 2022 · 14 shares · 130,191 followers View post →
Jonathan Sholl
@jrsholl · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 16, 2022 · 14 shares · 213 followers View post →
Susan Moore
@SRMooreResearch · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 16, 2022 · 14 shares · 1,822 followers View post →
Alberto Andrade
@Springandashura · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 231 followers View post →
Fab Wee Beasties
@FabWeeBeasties · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 691 followers View post →
ConservativeKitchen
@Conserv45104987 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 112 followers View post →
Dr Christian Reynolds
@sartorialfoodie · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 5,174 followers View post →
Mauricio Hernández-F, PhD
@mauhernandez80 · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 2,031 followers View post →
gourmetmetrics
@gourmetmetrics · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 669 followers View post →
Leigh A. Frame
@PhD_Leigh · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 4,939 followers View post →
green and nerdy
@nalanitempest · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed food…

Nov 15, 2022 · 14 shares · 942 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

Increased food waste results from a food system engineered for surplus protein and calories and mostly ultra-processed foods. Of the increased calories available since the 1970s, two-thirds were wasted and one-third accounts for the rise in US obesity: https://t.co/E7Qhq5Mt6I https://t.co/k8o3dzR5wA

Nov 15, 2022 · 29 likes · 14 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
GMWatch
@GMWatch · X

@igzabier @Kftyrell Meanwhile in the US: "Food waste has progressively increased from about 30% of the available food supply in 1974 to almost 40% in recent years" https://t.co/e88rnDzL5b

May 9, 2022 · 1 like · 52,121 followers View post →
Meteor0905
@meteor_0905 · X

RT @sguyenet: @PeterFaberSP Your assumption is correct, according to data since 1974 https://t.co/UlnrSVoI3K

Mar 14, 2022 · 1 share · 41 followers View post →
Stephan J. Guyenet
@sguyenet · X

@PeterFaberSP Your assumption is correct, according to data since 1974 https://t.co/UlnrSVoI3K

Mar 12, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 50,127 followers View post →
Luis Mella
@Mella10G · X

@santana_jcss @Josemc0506 @elvin_calcano24 Por ejemplo, habla del aumento de kilocalorías en el tiempo, pero no expone las externalidades negativas del tremendo surplus de desperdicio de comida y su impacto medio ambiental: https://t.co/9WJSg25x5W https://t.co/Kdqpiq9HR0

Jan 19, 2022 · 3 likes · 3,603 followers View post →
Ash Paul
@pash22 · X

The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact https://t.co/Gz33Yppm0t via @KevinH_PhD et al

Jun 24, 2021 · 1 like · 32,304 followers View post →
Jan Vyjidak
@janvyjidak · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: @TamarHaspel @AlanLevinovitz @tednaiman @DBelardoMD @marionnestle Sounds like old proposal: “the US obesity epidemic has be…

Jun 24, 2021 · 1 share · 4,140 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

@TamarHaspel @AlanLevinovitz @tednaiman @DBelardoMD @marionnestle Sounds like old proposal: “the US obesity epidemic has been the result of a “push effect” of increased food availability and marketing with Americans being unable to match their food intake with the increased supply of cheap, readily available food.” https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa

Jun 24, 2021 · 3 likes · 1 share · 38,751 followers View post →
Xinjie (Lois) Lin
@XinjieLoisLin · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: @GardnerPhD Great news! Food waste has been an interest of mine for more than a decade since we accidentally discovered how…

Mar 23, 2021 · 3 shares · 52 followers View post →
T
@Diamandbacks · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: @GardnerPhD Great news! Food waste has been an interest of mine for more than a decade since we accidentally discovered how…

Mar 23, 2021 · 3 shares · 2,041 followers View post →
Danielle Belardo, MD
@DBelardoMD · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: @GardnerPhD Great news! Food waste has been an interest of mine for more than a decade since we accidentally discovered how…

Mar 23, 2021 · 3 shares · 77,242 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

@GardnerPhD Great news! Food waste has been an interest of mine for more than a decade since we accidentally discovered how much it has increased over time, with important environmental consequences: https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa

Mar 23, 2021 · 12 likes · 3 shares · 38,751 followers View post →
Mark Perry
@PerryWhs · X

@emilypawley Good leads here https://t.co/0HHJTEApPy

Nov 11, 2020 · 1 like · 1,114 followers View post →
Michael Albert, MD
@MichaelAlbertMD · X

1) https://t.co/wNcxha6Jr5 2)https://t.co/fe8FYPY6S5

Mar 4, 2020 · 16,163 followers View post →
eleanorina
@_eleanorina · X

RT @KevinH_PhD: @PLOSONE Here's a link to our original study on the topic focusing on food waste trends in the USA: https://t.co/E7Qhq5Mt6I

Feb 13, 2020 · 3,185 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

@PLOSONE Here's a link to our original study on the topic focusing on food waste trends in the USA: https://t.co/E7Qhq5Mt6I

Feb 13, 2020 · 3 likes · 38,751 followers View post →
FoodHero
@foodheroCA · X

So many #resources are #wasted when we throw out #food - including 1/4 of our #freshwater supply!

Feb 6, 2020 · 1,421 followers View post →
Christian Mertens
@cmemertens · X

RT @foodheroqc: Énormément de #ressources sont #gaspillées lorsque nous jetons de la #nourriture – dont le 1/4 de notre approvisionnement e…

Feb 6, 2020 · 1 share · 2,447 followers View post →
FoodHero Québec
@foodheroqc · X

Énormément de #ressources sont #gaspillées lorsque nous jetons de la #nourriture – dont le 1/4 de notre approvisionnement en #eaudouce!

Feb 6, 2020 · 1 share · 942 followers View post →
amirsyafiqalias
@amirsyafiqalias · X

5. 25% of the world’s fresh water supply is used to grow food that is never eaten. https://t.co/dC6JfYKDqn

Nov 7, 2019 · 1,039 followers View post →
Kevin Hall
@KevinH_PhD · X

@Chrest_brett The mathematical model has been validated to give reasonably accurate predictions for overfeeding studies and long-term weight gain. See figure 2 here: https://t.co/E7Qhq5uSfa

Jul 3, 2019 · 1 like · 38,751 followers View post →