Today thousands of Americans they will participate in national rituals. They will eat more than 40 million turkeysfactory farmed animals that bear little resemblance to the wild birds mentioned in the Thanksgiving story.
On Thanksgiving, Americans litter around 8 million of those turkeysaccording to their estimate ReFEDa non-profit organization that works to reduce food waste. and this year will be the third Thanksgiving in a row to be celebrated amid an out-of-control bird flu epidemic, in which thousands of chickens and turkeys have been killed on infected farms using cold extermination methods.
ReFED estimates they will be lost across America 144 million kilograms of food this Thanksgiving, which represents goods even above 556 million dollars thrown away in one day All this wasted food could provide five meals for each of the 47.4 million people their face food insecurity in the US.
When food is wasted, all the resources used to produce it are also wasted, including water, energy, labor and land. About 2107 billion liters of water were used to produce the food that will be wasted this Thanksgiving,enough for everyone in the US to take 18 showers.
It’s worth noting that nearly 58% of the food wasted on Thanksgiving will come from two main items: turkey and milk. To put this into perspective, the amount of turkey waste alone is equivalent to throwing away. 8.2 million total turkeys – 4% of all turkeys produced in the US each year.
This food waste has a huge carbon footprint that contributes substantially to climate change. It is the emissions associated with food that is wasted on Thanksgiving 798.568 metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is roughly the same as what is emitted from driving 190,000 cars with gas for a year.
And when all the food wasted on Thanksgiving decomposes in a landfill, it will release nearly 5,000 metric tons of methane—similar to what is emitted from power supplies 26,000 houses for a year.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that has a warming effect 80 times stronger than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. A a recent ReFED report found that nearly four million tons or 14% of total US methane emissions come from non-eaten food.
The misery of the Thanksgiving turkey
In 2023, journalist Kenny Torrella published a devastating investigation into conditions in the US turkey industry. he wrote:
“The Broad Breasted White turkey, which is 99 out of 100 commercial turkeys, has been bred to develop more of the breast, one of the most valuable parts of the bird. These birds are growing twice as fast and becoming almost twice as large as they were in the 1960s.”
In the wild, turkeys live in “small groups of about a dozen, knowing each other, relate to each other as individuals”said Singer, author of the new book Think about Turkey. “The turkeys that are sold on Thanksgiving never see their mothers, they never go hunting … They are quite traumatized, I would say, as there are thousands of birds around them.”he added.
From birth to death, the life of a factory-farmed turkey is full of violence, including the amputation of its beak, toes and feet, a gruesome trip to the slaughterhouse, and a rough-and-tumble slaughter process and they hang upside down.and take to the automatic kill tape. “If they are lucky they die and then the knife cuts their throat”, A singer said. “If they are unlucky, the knife cuts their throat while they are conscious.”
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How can families reduce food waste during Thanksgiving celebrations?
Editor of Time.news: welcome to this special Thanksgiving feature, where we’re discussing not just traditions, but also the realities behind our holiday meals. Today, we’re joined by Dr. Emily Foster, a leading expert in agricultural sustainability and food waste management. Emily, thank you for being here.
Dr.Emily Foster: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here, especially at this time of year when food and traditions are at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Editor: Let’s dive right in.Millions of Americans will be gathering for Thanksgiving, indulging in a feast that typically includes over 40 million turkeys. But you mentioned that most of these turkeys are factory-farmed. Can you elaborate on what that means for our food system and the animals themselves?
Dr. Foster: Absolutely. factory farming emphasizes efficiency and output, ofen prioritizing profit over animal welfare.These turkeys are bred to grow quickly, but the environments they are raised in can be overcrowded and stressful, leading to a lack of the natural behaviors that wild turkeys exhibit. This disconnect from their natural state is stark and raises significant concerns about animal welfare.
editor: that’s eye-opening.In the context of Thanksgiving,it’s estimated that around 8 million turkeys will be wasted. What do you think contributes to this alarming statistic?
Dr. Foster: The waste is multifaceted. A significant portion of it comes from over-preparing and over-purchasing food, even as families gather for this occasion. Cultural expectations frequently enough led us to believe that we need to have an abundance of food, so a lot ends up being leftover or discarded. It’s also exacerbated by logistical issues—if a bird isn’t cooked properly or if it’s not appealing, it’s often thrown away rather than repurposed.
Editor: And amidst this,we’re still facing an ongoing bird flu outbreak that has led to the culling of thousands of infected birds. How does this epidemic intertwine with Thanksgiving preparations?
Dr. Foster: The bird flu crisis is indeed serious. It impacts the supply chain, leading to shortages and price increases, which can cause people to overcompensate by buying more than they need. Moreover,the ethical dilemma here is concerning—many families may unknowingly choose turkeys that have been produced under terrible conditions or that have been impacted by disease. It’s vital for consumers to engage with more enduring and humane sourcing options when they can.
Editor: The statistics from ReFED are striking; they estimate that this Thanksgiving alone will see 144 million kilograms of food wasted, translating to over $556 million worth of goods discarded in just one day. How can we, as individuals and a society, address this pressing issue?
Dr. Foster: Education is key. Individuals can start by planning meals more thoughtfully to avoid buying excessive food. We can also encourage communities to come together to share surplus food or donate to local food banks. Beyond individual efforts, we need systemic changes to improve food distribution and make surplus food more accessible to those in need. Shifting our perspective on leftovers and food waste can lead us to less wasteful traditions.
Editor: Those are practical solutions that anyone can incorporate. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, what message do you hope resonates with people regarding food waste and sustainability?
Dr. foster: I hope that people recognize that their choices matter—not just for their own households,but for the habitat and society as a whole. Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on gratitude, and that can extend to our gratitude for food, the farmers who produce it, and the obligation we bear in reducing waste. With collective effort, we can shift towards a more sustainable and compassionate way of celebrating.
Editor: Thank you, Dr.Foster, for your insights today. It’s clear that while Thanksgiving may be a time of festivity,it also calls for thoughtful reflection on how we approach food consumption and waste.
dr. Foster: Thank you! I appreciate the platform to discuss these crucial issues, and I hope everyone has a mindful and meaningful Thanksgiving.