foodwaste_ngm_032016_MM8423_004Brian Finke/National Geographic
Today, a third of the planet's food goes to waste — enough to feed two billion people.
That food is wasted at every stage from farm to table, sometimes just because of how it looks.
In fields, unpicked, "ugly" produce is left to rot. In grocery stores, workers reject blemished (but edible) fruits and veggies. And in our own homes, we ignore leftovers and throw out perishables before they've expired.
Food waste is a moral issue — as National Geographic points out, this wasted food could feed the 800 million people who are starving worldwide twice over. Earlier this year, the magazine looked at data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and found that some food items are wasted more than others.
In celebration of World Food Day on October 16, which serves as a day of action against hunger, here's a look at how different food categories rank in terms of waste. The percentages indicate the portion of the world's total food waste that each food category represents.