Food Waste Expected to Increase this Thanksgiving
According to ReFED, a food systems think tank, about 320 million pounds of food are expected to go to waste this Thanksgiving, up from 316 million in 2024.
The lost food represents about $550 million in retail value and could have provided approximately 267 million meals for those in need.
The amount of food going to waste this year represents some 267 million meals that could have gone to people in need, says ReFED.
This issue comes amid persistent food insecurity and price inflation in the US, with food costs roughly 18.2% higher as of September 2025 than in January 2022.
The ongoing government shutdown also threatens to delay SNAP payments, intensifying the impact of food insecurity.
Author's summary: US to waste 267m meals this Thanksgiving.