The New Candy Company That's Trying To Eliminate Food Waste
Global food waste is a major factor in climate change, according to the United Nations. Globally, 14% of food is lost after it is harvested, and 17% gets wasted in retail and consumer spaces. That is a shocking statistic when you consider that in 2021, 13.5 million U.S. households were considered food insecure, per the USDA. When perfectly good food has to be thrown away, not only is the item itself lost but so are the valuable energy and resources that were used to grow and harvest it. The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) reports that food waste in landfills creates nearly a quarter of all U.S. methane emissions, as well as 4.5% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
Perhaps the most sobering statistic of all is that the amount of food that goes to waste each year could feed up to 25 million people. There are a few ways for consumers to minimize food waste, but many corporations also contribute to the problem. Fortunately, one candy company is working to eliminate waste by using food that would otherwise be thrown out, which will in turn help reduce harm to the environment.
Climate-friendly candy
Amy Keller is no stranger to the candy business, reports CNN Business. She's part of the Spangler family: The creators of the iconic Dum-Dum Pops, Necco Wafers, and Smarties. Keller is putting her candy knowledge to use with Climate Candy. The plant-based FAVES candy turns unwanted produce into chewy, fruity candies made of 96% fruits and vegetables. Better yet, each pack of FAVES contains four servings of misshapen produce that would have otherwise gone to waste.
The Climate Candy website states that a quarter of all "perfectly imperfect" produce goes to waste — food that may look misshapen, or discolored, but is still good to eat. Keller's company seeks out this food to use for its products since its appearance won't matter once it's transformed into candy. The company's website states that it specifically purchases unharvested produce from farms to use in its recipes.
Climate Candy's FAVES can be purchased on its website. Each serving is under a hundred calories and uses juice and puree from apples, pumpkins, carrots, strawberries, and more to achieve that sweet, fruity flavor you crave in candy, but using natural sources.