Food is lost or wasted throughout the supply chain, from initial agricultural production down to final household consumption. 2 billion tons of food are wasted each year due to poor storage and inadequate infrastructure that leads to food spoilages, extremely inefficient agricultural practices, or the practice of discarding good-to-eat food that do not appeal consumers and food businesses.  The exact causes of food losses vary throughout the world and are very much dependent on the specific conditions and local situation in a given country.
Food waste in industrialized countries can be reduced by raising awareness among food industries, retailers and consumers.