Every Bite Counts: How Reducing Food Waste Can Save Money and Feed Communities
- London Food And Wellness Hub
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Did you know the average Canadian household throws away over $1,300 worth of food every year? That's roughly the equivalent of tossing one bag of groceries in the trash every single week.
At the London Food & Wellness Hub, we see this challenge differently. Through the Harvest Food Box program which we're proud to offer with support from the Middlesex-London Health Unit we're not just providing fresh, nutritious food. We're also helping families make the most of every dollar they spend on groceries.
Food waste doesn't just hit your wallet. It contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, with wasted food generating approximately 25.7 million metric tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually in Canada roughly the same as 285 million flights around the world .
The Real Cost of Wasted Food
Here's what the numbers tell us:
Statistic | What It Means |
$58 billion | The estimated annual value of avoidable food waste in Canada |
41% | The portion of food waste in Canada that could be avoided |
46.5% | The percentage of all food produced in Canada that is never consumed |
$246 per household | The amount wasted each year specifically due to confusion over "Best Before" dates |
The Best Before Myth
A 2025 study from Too Good To Go and Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab revealed that 63% of Canadians rely exclusively on "Best Before" dates to decide if food is safe to eat even though these dates are actually about quality, not safety.
Products with a shelf life longer than 90 days aren't even required to carry a Best Before date. Yet Canadians throw out an estimated 0.38 million metric tonnes of edible food annually simply because they misunderstand these labels .
Simple rule: Look. Smell. Taste. If it looks fine, smells fine, and tastes fine it probably is.
How We're Helping
Through our Harvest Food Box program, made possible with funding from the Middlesex-London Health Unit we're working to:
Connect families with fresh, affordable produce
Reduce food waste by getting nutritious food to those who need it
Build knowledge about cooking, storing, and preserving food
Support a healthier local food system in London
Small Changes You Can Make Today
Here are simple actions that make a real difference:
Plan your meals: Know what you need before you shop
Store food properly: Keep produce fresh longer
Use your leftovers creatively: Transform meals rather than tossing them
Freeze what you can't eat: It preserves food for later
Understand Best Before dates: They're about quality, not safety
Learn More
For more tips and resources, visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit's food resources page:
And remember: when you reduce food waste, you're not just saving money you're protecting the environment and helping build a stronger, healthier community.
Because every bite counts.
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