Food Talk with Dani Nierenberg (by Food Tank) 510. Dana Gunders And Michael Grunwald On The Importance Of National Leadership And How Journalism Can Accelerate Solutions To Food Waste
Sep 22, 2025
Dana Gunders, President of ReFED and a champion against food waste, teams up with Michael Grunwald, food and climate columnist. They dive into the alarming trends of food wastage in the U.S., highlighting the role of federal initiatives and local policies. Gunders shares practical tips for households to reduce waste, while Grunwald discusses how storytelling can shift public perspectives. Both emphasize the need for innovative solutions and behavioral nudges to combat waste, urging listeners to focus on impactful individual actions like reducing meat consumption.
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Signs Of Peak Food Waste
- The U.S. appears to have reached peak household food waste and may be starting to decline slightly.
- Current levels still fall far short of the 2030 goal to cut food waste in half.
Leverage Federal Policy Wins
- Use policy to align incentives: donate surplus, fix date labels, and keep food out of landfills.
- Federal actions like USDA school-food steps and bipartisan date-label bills can accelerate progress.
Higher Prices Haven't Reduced Waste
- Rising grocery prices so far have not driven households to waste less food.
- That suggests people need specific guidance and nudges to translate cost pressure into waste-reducing behavior.