Nice infographic on the incredible amount of food that is wasted from the field to the table. These numbers look very bad, but are they really?

You will have to click HERE to see a larger image.

On first look, I was aghast at the amount of "leakage" or loss of product along the supply chain from field to table. 

But then I thought about it.

With all the latest advancements in technology, processing and packaging, how aweful HISTORICALLY the waste and loss must have been compared to today, in real terms.

In nominal terms, there is going to be a lot of waste because we produce more food than ever.

If you look at the percentages they use for "developed" vs "developing" countries, I would venture to say that 50 years ago you could  apply today's developing countries percentages to the developed worlds.

In other words, if developled countries are doing twice as well as 50 years ago in reducing waste/leakage but it STILL seems like a lot of spoiled/damaged/lost food.

Or...it could be the developed world consumers are so picky that even slightly damaged produce does not get put on the shelves and is thrown out, whereas, the our fore-mothers/fathers would not have been so finicky about a bruise or two.

Source: CNN