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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Promote Simple Home Habits
- Communicate easy, concrete actions like freezing leftovers after one day and understanding date labels.
- Keep messaging positive, fun, and full of practical tips to change household habits.
Use Local Laws To Divert Food
- Adopt food-waste diversion laws and composting mandates to cut landfill food and methane quickly.
- States and cities that require diversion also see increased donations and job growth in organics collection.
Use Data To Pick Solutions
- Use ReFED's insights engine to compare solutions by food saved, cost, and greenhouse-gas benefits.
- Explore provider listings and scenario calculators at refed.org to choose proven interventions.