Biggest U.S. grocery retailers score poorly on reducing food waste

Reporting food waste at less than 1 percent for 50 million shoppers, United Kingdom-based Tesco earns an A when it comes to waste prevention initiatives, according to a report by the Center for Biological Diversity titled “Checked Out: How U.S. Supermarkets Fail to Make the Grade in Reducing Food Waste.” 

In contrast, the 10 largest grocery retailers in the United States earn grades ranging from B to F, with Walmart ranked the highest with a B, followed by Ahold Delhaize USA, The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos., each of which was given a grade of C by the nonprofit membership organization better known for its efforts to protect endangered species.

“Roughly 40 percent of the food produced in the United States goes uneaten — costing more than $200 billion each year and creating unnecessary impacts on water supplies, clean air, climate and wildlife,” states the report, which notes that “nine out of America’s 10 biggest grocery companies fail to publicly report their total food waste.”

The Center for Biological Diversity is calling on U.S. supermarkets to commit to eliminating food waste by 2025. The best waste prevention and reduction programs incorporate public reporting of food waste volume, imperfect produce initiatives, in-store efforts to minimize waste, food recycling programs, supply chain partnerships aimed at eradicating waste, and other initiatives, according to the organization.