Consumer-Level Food Loss Estimates and Their Use in the ERS Loss-Adjusted Food Availability Data

The Food Availability (FA) Data System tracks annual food and nutrient availability for many commodities. The FA data series overstates actual consumption, so the Loss-Adjusted FA data adjusts the FA data for non-edible food parts and food losses, incl., losses from farm to retail, at retail, and at the consumer level. This report proposes new consumer-level loss estimates for "cooking loss and uneaten food" of the edible share to replace those currently used in the Loss-Adjusted FA data and proposes their adoption. Overall, if the proposed loss estimates are used in the loss-adjusted series, the average Amer. would consume 17.3 pds. less each year, or 42 fewer calories per day, than suggested by the currently used loss estimates. A print on demand report.