Kelowna 
A new report from Second Harvest, Canada’s largest food rescue organization, has revealed that nearly half of all food produced in Canada is wasted annually, with significant financial and environmental costs.
The report, titled The Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste: Update, shows that 46.5% of food in Canada is wasted, with 41.7% of this waste classified as avoidable. The value of this avoidable food waste amounts to $58 billion.
The report, co-authored with Value Chain Management International (VCMI) and funded by Loblaw Companies Limited, emphasizes the continued scale of the problem. Second Harvest says avoidable food waste has risen by 6.5% since their 2019 study, indicating a persistent issue across the country’s food system.
The report finds that best-before dates alone contribute to 23% of avoidable food waste, highlighting a critical area for improvement from processing to purchasing.
Lori Nikkel, CEO of Second Harvest, called for urgent action, stating that “the environmental and financial costs of food waste are staggering,” particularly in light of Canada’s current food affordability crisis. The report estimates that the avoidable food waste contributes approximately 25.7 million metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year, an equivalent of 253,000 flights between Toronto and Vancouver.
Dr. Martin Gooch, CEO of VCMI, says the food waste remains pervasive across the supply chain, impacting all Canadians.
The study surveyed over 1,000 organizations and offers a comprehensive blueprint to reduce waste, redistribute surplus food, and foster a more sustainable food system.
More Information — Avoidable Crisis of Food Waste: Update
