Almost 1 Billion Tons of Food Is Wasted Each Year, U.N. Report Finds The United Nations has found that more than 900 million tons of food were wasted in 2019. The problem is pervasive, with food waste occurring at every step of the food chain worldwide. Mar. 17, 2021 A report published by the United Nations estimates that 17 percent of the food produced globally – around 930 million tons – is thrown away each year. The quantity of food wasted is enough to load 23 million 40-ton trucks, equal to seven times the Earth’s perimeter when lined-up. If we want to get serious about tackling climate change… businesses, governments and citizens around the world have to do their part to reduce food waste.