ABSTRACT
Saving food and preventing waste are crucial matters that have confronted humankind for millennia. During the twentieth century, lower food prices and societal changes encouraged food waste in well-to-do countries. During the latter part of the century, concern with food waste was raised by two major groups: environmentalists and anti-hunger advocates. Environmentalists were concerned with the impact of food waste issues in rapidly expanding landfills. They also identified it as a major contributor to global warming. Those concerned with food insecurity, malnutrition and hunger wanted to recover as much edible food as possible to help feed the needy. When food prices skyrocketed in the early 2000s due to rapidly increasing oil prices, bad weather, and the financial crisis known as the “Great Recession,” millions of people around the world were facing hunger and malnutrition. War was declared on food waste in many countries. Books, articles, films, conferences, and television programs alerted businesses and consumers to issues associated with food waste. Governmental programs, organizations, and businesses were launched to help recover, reduce, and recycle food waste.
