This Thanksgiving, approximately $550 million worth of food will go to waste across America. That’s according to a new analysis by ReFED, a U.S.-based nonprofit that’s working to get the food system to stop wasting food.
ReFED estimates that 320 million pounds of food will be wasted this Thanksgiving, equivalent to 267 million meals that could have gone to people in need. This waste comes at a time when many Americans are facing food insecurity.
The waste is largely due to the tradition of preparing more food than needed for Thanksgiving gatherings. According to survey data from NielsenIQ and ReFED, over 90% of Thanksgiving hosts intentionally prepare excess food, leading to leftovers.
While leftovers are a cherished part of Thanksgiving, not all hosts manage them effectively. Nearly half of hosts surveyed are not concerned about food waste, and 12% do not plan to manage leftovers in any special way, which increases the likelihood of food ending up in the trash.
The environmental impact of this waste is significant. The emissions associated with wasted food on Thanksgiving are estimated at 811,726 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, comparable to driving 190,000 gasoline-powered vehicles for a year. Additionally, 39 billion gallons of water are used to produce the food that will be wasted, enough to fill more than 59,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Economic factors also contribute to the issue, with USDA reporting that wholesale prices for frozen turkeys are 40% higher than in 2024. This price increase means that the financial impact of wasted food is even greater.
To combat food waste, people can maximize the use of leftovers by sending guests home with food, making new meals from leftovers and freezing excess food. Supporting local charitable food systems and adopting waste-reducing behaviors can also help mitigate the problem.
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