[WEBINAR RECAP] Andrew Zimmern on the Future of Food Waste Solutions

Nearly 30% of the U.S. food supply goes unsold or uneaten, resulting in a loss of close to $400 billion in value annually. Yet, one in seven American households experienced food insecurity in 2024.

This disconnect between resource abundance and systemic failure served as the jumping-off point for ReFED’s recent webinar, What Will It Take to Solve Food Waste? Emmy and James Beard Award-winning host, chef, and food advocate Andrew Zimmern joined ReFED President Dana Gunders to discuss why we can no longer settle for temporary workarounds that merely relocate waste rather than eliminate it.

The conversation covered a vast array of topics—more than are captured in this recap—watch the full discussion here.

The Case for a Secretary of Food

One of Zimmern’s primary frustrations is the fragmented American food policy. Currently, food oversight is split between the USDA and the FDA, leading to a "piecemeal" approach where regulations often conflict, particularly regarding date labels and safety standards. Even when there is no direct opposition to reform, Zimmern notes that the current system's procedural red tape creates unnecessary hurdles for progress.

To solve this, Zimmern argues that the U.S. must prioritize the creation of a cabinet-level Secretary of Food. He noted that we must "put food under a decision-making governmental authority so that the decisions made in one area of government... are in lockstep with decisions made in another," making it easier for successful food rescue programs to be modeled or scaled across the country.

By unifying these efforts, Zimmern believes the U.S. can finally "balance our food budget"—aligning our waste and hunger issues. "Unless we have the power of laws," he warned, "there will be noncompliance."

Diversifying Our Diet

What we choose to eat plays a role in overcoming food waste. Zimmern points out that the U.S. is one of the few countries that refuse to practice "whole animal utilization." By insisting on processed fillets and rejecting fish heads, necks, and organ meats, we create waste before the food even reaches the consumer.

One solution is a shift toward "Blue Foods"—aquatic foods including seaweed and lesser-known fish species. Zimmern argues that terrestrial agriculture is under immense pressure from the climate crisis and labor shortages, making the ocean our most viable path forward. "Seafood is easily the most nutrient-dense and climate-efficient protein we have," he said. "Nothing else comes close."

He envisions a future where Americans move past "three big celebrity fish" and embrace sustainable aquaculture—as well as diverse proteins like goat and rabbit, which are efficient to raise but currently lack cultural acceptance. By using the "whole fish" and diversifying our diet, we reduce the environmental pressure on a few over-taxed systems and naturally decrease the volume of byproduct waste.

Education as a Tool for Resilience

Systemic change requires a more informed consumer. Zimmern highlighted that much of our household waste is driven by a lack of basic food literacy—specifically regarding date labels and ingredient versatility.

The current labeling system is a major culprit of "accidental" waste. Consumers often discard perfectly safe food because they mistake "best by" dates for safety expiration dates. Zimmern stresses that we must educate the public to understand that food is often still viable long after an arbitrary stamp. "You look at it, and you figure out what you're going to do to process it in the hopes that you don't have to throw it away if it's past its peak," Zimmern remarked. "It’s very confusing. It takes a lot of education."

Education must also extend to the kitchen. Zimmern advocates for a return to the "skillet meal" or "one-bowl meal" mindset. Instead of viewing leftover rice or "flaccid" carrots as trash, consumers should see them as base ingredients for risottos, pates, or dressings. By teaching consumers to trust their senses and repurpose pantry staples, we can significantly lower the $400 billion in lost value the U.S. sees annually.

The Path Forward

Solving food waste is not a "one plus one equals two" equation. As Zimmern made clear, it requires a multi-pillar approach that blends federal policy, a diversification of our protein sources, and more effort to re-educate the American consumer.

Join the Conversation: To dive deeper into these solutions and hear more from industry leaders, don't miss Andrew Zimmern at the next ReFED Food Waste Solutions Summit.