The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-11-28
FOOD WASTE IN AMERICA.

Compared with other nations, Americans
regardless of class, live better than any,
and of course waste more food.
Indeed the American idea of living is
based quite rs much upon the general
abundance of food products, as it is upon
the pecuniary ability of the individual
consumer to pay for what he eats as well as
wastes.
The notion of the old black cook down
South, that heaven was place where lard
is plenty, is but one expression of this
popular idea of prevailing abundance, that
has obtained so long in the country.
But with increase in population, and the
continual demand for the best of every
thing, there has been perceptible falling
off in the abundance of food products with
which the elder generation of our people
are familiar.
The time was, when Maryland like other
| Southern States and some Western ones,
was perfect ElDarado of good living.
Out of this abundance, has grown the
national habit of wastefulness.
Speaking of this writer to the New
York "Herald' says: "I've been pretty
much over the world in my time, and I've
seen quite bit; but l know l shall
astonish you when say that the thing
which has impressed me most is the
economy of food abroad and the waste of
food at home.
Understand all this statement implies
Absolutely nothing is thrown away or
wasted in continental Europe. And the
economy Of food is more marked in China,
Japan and the Asatic countries. There is
no doubt in my mind but that we in the
United States waste more food in year
than is consumed in France in the same
time. What single New York servant
girl throws into the garbage barrel every
week would support dozen Chinese
families. And yet our people are always
complaining of hard times, and are always
making wry faces about getting along in
the world.
''The waste begins at the very found
ations OF our society and business and runs
all the way up. The American farmer is Il
man who has burned off great tracts of
valuable timber, worth five times the land
on which it grew; to raise grain to burn for
frewood That land to-day is but half
titled taking the fields of Germany and
other European count les into the compari-
son. Until very recently all the refuse
about mills and manufactures was de-
stroyed; now many of them turn their
slabs into furniture and their saw-dust into
fuel Again, as to food. Anybody who
has travelled much and knows what sort
of food one gets in the South and West
anywhere outside of the big Eastern cities
will appreciate it when | say that at least
one half the food is wasted. This is partly
through bad cookery and partly through
mere wasteful management. (All food not
assimilated is wanted-worse than wasted
for it wears the system out to no purpose.
The common hotel and family cookery
makes assimilation practically impossible
So much for what is eaten. That which is
actually thrown away would feed millions.
If it could be diverted into the proper
channels it would make human suffering
from want of food impossible in this
country. Moreover, the waste would feed
the INDECENT hungry Of the whole world!
There is something actually criminal in all
this. But presume it can't be helped
until the American nature shall have under
gone change"