This study examined who people think is responsible for food waste in the U.S. Researchers surveyed over 1,300 U.S. consumers and found that most blame individuals and restaurants, while very few blame farmers. Interestingly, people who actively try to reduce food waste tend to see it as a broader problem involving multiple players – like grocery stores, food manufacturers, and government policies – rather than just individuals. The findings suggest that educating consumers about waste throughout the entire food system could help build support for comprehensive solutions.

Citation: Martin, E. M., Hallett, E. M., Fan, L., Ellison, B., & Wilson, N. L. (2025). Who is to Blame for Food Waste? Choices, 39(4), 1-5. https://www.choicesmagazine.org/UserFiles/file/cmsarticle_944.pdf