Episode 57: Tackling food insecurity

This episode of Food to Go is brought to you in partnership with Merck Life Science. To learn more about how Merck can help you maintain high standards of safety and quality, click here. 

In the latest episode of Food to Go, brought to you by the New Food team, Erika Thiem, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Feeding America, sits down with Editor Leah Hockley to discuss how the nationwide network of food banks, food pantries and local meal programmes are enabling better access to food for consumers across the US that are facing food insecurity.

Beginning the conversation, Erika offers her insight into her role at Feeding America, and shares with our audience an overview of Feeding America’s goals and efforts to support improve food security across the US. 

From there, Leah and Erika delve into the organisation’s Food Rescue Challenge, which is inviting the public to secure five billion pounds of food rescued annually, an additional 1 billion pounds than is currently recovered each year. The challenge will directly address heightened levels of food insecurity across the US and ensure wholesome food is used to fill fridges, not landfills.

Then, in the second half of the conversation, Erika shares her thoughts on what more can be done by the industry to rescue food safely and securely, in order to enable consumers across the US that are facing food insecurity to be able to access familiar foods that are safe for consumption.

To end the episode, Erika offers a call to action to listeners ahead of Hunger Action Month® in September. This Hunger Action Month, choose to end the impossible choices of hunger. 

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for upcoming Food to Go podcasts!