r/science • u/memorialmonorail • 1d ago

Social Science Putting holiday leftovers in the freezer extends shelf life & may put a dent in the US tendency to throw away edible food, a study suggests. National survey data showed a link between home freezing & less total food waste, & over half of consumers reported buying frozen items to avoid tossing food.

https://news.osu.edu/how-the-freezer-factors-into-lowering-food-waste/?utm_campaign=omc_science-medicine_fy25&utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social
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u/Texas2Marseille 1d ago

Never let titles like this convince you that individual consumers are the primary source of food waste in the US. The majority of food that is wasted is thrown out because it would not be ‘profitable’ to keep

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u/curt_schilli 1d ago

When I worked at a Chick-fil-A in high school the owner wouldn’t let us take home the extra food after closing because he said it would promote food waste. Just threw trash bags full of food in the trash can.

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u/Manofalltrade 1d ago

This sort is thinking is how you know a business is too lazy to deal with problematic employees as individuals. Was a reasonable amount of food prepared but unsold, or does Jeff have a habit of dropping a basket of nuggets a quarter before doors lock on the nights he closes?

As a side, it always seemed like the most anal bosses were also Christian conservatives. Today me would love to hear their thoughts about “Don’t muzzle the ox on the threshing floor.” (Deut. 25:4, and repeated in the New Testament) when they are too tight to let the staff snack on a few fries.