Research has shown that young adults are generally not good food conservers, wasting more food than other age groups. But why? This study, published in Appetite, delved into the perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors related to food waste among U.S. young adults. Through nine focus groups with participants aged 18-24, researchers found low food waste awareness and knowledge, with them often underestimating their own waste compared to national averages. While numerous factors were mentioned as influencing their food waste behavior, apathy was common among participants with perceptions that food waste didn’t personally affect them. However, participants offered several suggestions on how to reverse young adult apathy, focusing on education to increase food waste awareness, as well as improving food-management skills related to meal planning, shopping, storage, and cooking – especially for one person. This study underscored the need to increase awareness and develop targeted interventions for food waste reduction among young adults to change apathy to action.

Citation: Nikolaus, C. J., Nickols-Richardson, S. M., & Ellison, B. (2018). Wasted food: a qualitative study of US young adults’ perceptions, beliefs and behaviors. Appetite, 130, 70-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2018.07.026