hmm....I think this is a little farfetched (and this is an "independent research institute" making this bold accusation, not the entire country). I think that Americans could be doing a lot more about the overconsumption of food, however we need to find ways in which to help. I think most of us have grown up with the "eat everything on your plate, there are starving kids in Africa/India" mentality...this mentality has hurt us more than helped us. If we stopped buying the extra food a week that we don't need, we could donate that money to organizations that fight starvation in other countries. Every little bit counts.

The institute that made the claim is an international trade, economics and the environment research group called CUTS International. It could be farfetched, what do you think? For what it's worth, the Times quoted them...

It's easy to blame America for everything. We are by far the richest country in the world (even though China owns a good portion of us through loans...). I agree that we need to help starving people abroad, but the leaders of those countries also bear the responsibility to develope trade relations that are favorable to all parties involved. Matbe we should be trading food for oil, instead of dollars....

I agree with you NYF! I think India is a reaching a bit on this one.

while our hands are not entirely clean, I agree with the others, it's a stretch and really easy to blame others than to look at what it is you're doing that's causing the negative consequences.

3,700 calories? Wow. I wonder who's eating my extra 2,000 calories each day?

i don't think this is an unreasonable assumption - after all, we do waste TONS of food every year. but it's not the end all, be all reason for the worldwide food crisis (although it could play a role).

these problems are almost never the result of one single factor. i think the governments in the countries where we give aid are also extremely corrupt and use the money for themselves instead of giving it to the people who really need it. and of course there are countless other reasons...

i'm sorry, I think this is ridiculous. America does consume and waste a lot of food. but it's hard to compare side by side two countries that are vastly different. first off, we have access to the food, and the money to buy it. it's everywhere. grocery stores, restaurants, you name it. We can even get it in our cars! when i've traveled to other countries, I notice that food just isn't as available there as it is here. there aren't as many supermarkets, and people have refridgerators the size of a college student's mini-fridge. Milk comes in a container so small it would only fill one bowl of cereal for me. i haven't been to india, but i don't think they have even a fraction of the establishments where we get food every day. I'm not excusing our overconsumption, but there are a few details that help keep us in the lead. and what do you think the cost would be for us to ship all our leftovers to India? or Africa? or half of our crops, meat, produce, etc? it's not as simple as saying we need to eat less and they'd have more.

Also, there are other developed countries that eat in abundance. Maybe not to the extent WE do, but there are.

I don't think it is a stretch, but I think it should include Europe as well. If you look at the NYT article, it shows that food consumption in Europe/America vs India/China, the consumption statistics are startling!

The amount of corn we consume is probably contributing to the high rates of obesity. Corn fructose syrup, it is in everything!

Read the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/business/worldbusiness/14food.html?_r=...

When you're top dog everyone nips at your heels.

we should cut back. why not? we're fatter than ever these days. maybe this is a stretch in a logical sense - BUT - if it gets the issue on the table and gets people talking about it, maybe its a good thing. the united states DOES have to look at its food consumption. and its not just how we eat, it's also how much we throw away.

I agree with you meena on the corn consumption specifically.

Also, isn't it remarkable that their poor people are super skinny, and many of our poor are overweight? they may not only be consuming a little more, but they're consuming things that aren't good for them, because cheap food isn't always healthy. small amounts of some foods are high in calories, fat, sugar, cholesterol, etc. and that diet can lead to health problems like heart disease, and diabetes, contributing to obesity, or making it worse.

I don't think any of the things i've pointed out are sole causes of their (or our) food shortage, or that changing them would solve the problem. I just think there are way too many factors in play to say America overeats and India suffers.

I agree with you meena on the corn consumption specifically.

Also, isn't it remarkable that their poor people are super skinny, and many of our poor are overweight? they may not only be consuming a little more, but they're consuming things that aren't good for them, because cheap food isn't always healthy. small amounts of some foods are high in calories, fat, sugar, cholesterol, etc. and that diet can lead to health problems like heart disease, and diabetes, contributing to obesity, or making it worse.

I don't think any of the things i've pointed out are sole causes of their (or our) food shortage, or that changing them would solve the problem. I just think there are way too many factors in play to say America overeats and India suffers.

i agree YY we should cut back, and look to healthier options. you are right that bringing the issue to the table (ha ha, pun!) will not hurt anyone.

Well I'm a starving artist, so clearly someone else is having my share of our over consumption.

Stiletta- I agree, as top dog other do "nip at your heels" but in this case it seems as though America (through "top govt officials") has also been a little to fault with their accusations that India's growing middle class is to blame for inflation of food prices. Again, there isn't one source for all problems. World wide food inflation and shortages have many causes. This situtation appears to be an example of the political blame game. Both countries need to get over it and start putting their energies into how to SOLVE the food shortage crisis.

Oh please! Just another Blame America tirade... nothing more...

Didn't we just read an article on here a few days ago about how much the UK wastes?? Yet they weren't mentioned by this "institute"?

Interesting...

This is definately true. Look at the portion sizes compared to 20 years ago they pratically doubled in size!! Although as individuals we are able to use our own method of portion control, American Society as a whole is all about "the larger the better." We are a very materialistic country and the larger the house, the larger the car, the larger the plate the better!! Its all about visual stimulation and the more grand the better.

NYF, I don't think there is a food crisis. I think there is a food distribution crisis. People are starving because they don't have access to the plentiful food that does exist and that's not America's fault or problem. While I hope that America does all it can to help suffering, I also am aware that we do more than any other country through our programs and shouldn't be ashamed.

While I do agree the U.S. does alot I think there's always room to do more. Especially on the individual level. It irks me to think how much food is actually wasted in this country (however that's not to say food isn't wasted in India either!!). I think more can be done by all parties involved.

its funny that was said when i just read an article that was the completly opposite. it had said that because both china and india were doing better financially, it was stretching food supplies. the average chinese boy is taller and heavier this year than ten years ago. it also went on to say that both of these countries are poised to become major food distributors in the near future and with that in mind this "crisis" is not really a crisis but rather a cyclical thing that happens as countries grow and develop.

I've tried to cut out most processed foods. I am not always victorious. BUT I have noticed that I eat a lot less. I have to shop more often because all the food is fresh. The pros are of course it's healthier, I tend to let less food go bad, and fresh food is more fulfilling. I think if more people tried to adopt these practices less food would go to waste.

The food shortages across the world are caused by very complex factors; I'm wary of blaming any one single entity or cause for it.

That being said, this sounds like our mothers' "Don't waste the food on your plate when there are people starving in India" tirades, in real life

Actually Harmony, I personally am eating your excesses. I wouldn't want that food to go to waste

Go team red

it's too oversimplified to blame the US. isn't India supposed to have the largest growing population in the world? what about that? isn't that a factor in the food crisis?

I forgot to say that I find it ironic that America is drowning in junk and fast food, while other countries, whose national cuisines are in most cases healthier and more sparing than ours, must go without. Just an observation.

Twenty years ago when American portions and waistlines were smaller, did everybody in the world have enough to eat? Back before America even existed there were people starving in parts of the world. I'm not sure how they could publish this and hope to maintain any credibility.

That said, I do think many Americans would be well served to take a look at their general consumption habits - food and otherwise - and make healthier choices.

Hey I am all for smaller portions! What I don't like is smaller portions but still the same price, thats just a rip off!

Maybe we're not gluttons, just cheapos!

I believe they are making a point among many points. I'm sure that who ever issued the statement is well aware that there are a few contributing factors to any food shortage. However being 5-6% of the world’s population and consuming 25% of its resources we need to understand that this lopsided reality is the major factor that does sit well with the rest of the world who as human beings are just as entitled to natural resources as we are. As for liposuction it is clearly an enabling remedy to the problem.

I found it very telling about capitalism when President Bush said "about India’s growing middle class and food prices. He said, “when you start getting wealth, you start demanding better nutrition and better food, and so demand is high, and that causes the price to go up.” This goes back to my point that capitalism needs poverty to survive. It needs the back of a third world to stand on. The planet simply can not support more than a few capitalistic successful societies it is physically and economically impossible.

I am willing to say that within my life time capitalism will change dramatically not because we want it to but because we'll need it to and the U.S. will be dragged kicking and screaming all through the change.

Sorry *does NOT sit well....

L-O-L So, because America is doing well, India is suffering? Give me a break, or better yet, India should maybe point the finger to their own economy, rather than play the blame game.

Is it true that if we eat less, the food will magically make its way to hungrier countries? I can see that reduced demand would reduce costs I guess.

I honestly don't fully understand all the factors that are leading to the food crisis so I can't say whether we're to blame or not.

The attitude that people go after us solely because we're the "top dog" is a bit short sighted, isn't it? I'm not afraid to admit we can do things better in the US. We can!

For the most part, people I talk to are extremely concerned about the obesity trend. And, if it's true that it's contributing to food shortages elsewhere, even more reason for us to shape up.

This reminds me of all the times mothers say "Eat your peas. There are starving children in Africa/India/China." How many kids haven't sassed back, "Great. Give me an envelope and I will mail it to them." Sure Americans eat too much. I know I do. But to blame the global food shortage on the U.S. is pretty simplistic. There are many pieces to the puzzle, including an abundance of food that is held up or stolen by corrupt governments. Another part of the problem is the rise in wealth by countries such as India and China. As these countries become wealthier, they start to eat more meat because they can finally afford to. Cows and pigs require a lot of feed (corn, grains) that could be going to feed people. Then there's the diversion of corn to produce ethanol. I could go on and on. As you can tell, I think about food too much.

hypno you are soooo right....great comment

Americans have been gluttonous for years, and yet the food shortages that are happening now are a fairly recent thing.

The price of food has sooooo much to do with other things...like the cost of gas a tractor uses to make the corn, shipping around the world, etc. Also, the increase of populations in India and Asia are vastly increasing the demand for food. I do think it would be in our best interest to cut back and stop being so wasteful (hello Macaroni Grill, Cheesecake Factory, and Chinese resturants that give you pounds of rice!). However, I don't think you can say if America would eat better other people would have food.

hey is that joshie-poo, "Pizza Tits" from intervention in the picture? amazing episode.

It wouldn't hurt at all for us to eat less here and to have less junk to eat, but it's not really going to magically made food appear elsewhere. If that was the case, I would have never over eaten in my life. In fact the mentality that we can't waste food because other people are starving just causes people here to over eat which doesn't help anyone here, there or anywhere else.

And if I'm using or even wasting 3,770 calories a day, then someone has been eating a lot of the food on my plate or throwing it away without me noticing.

3700 is not that hard to believe, having worked as Physical Trainer and seeing what many clients were eating daily I would believe it. However I think its a little to difficult to see how the US is entirely to blame.

I think it has more to do with Agricultural expenses (equipment, fuel, seed). They are rationing rice in our local stores which is funny because most people I speak to rarely eat the stuff.

A Message for India .. the farmer in the US are suffering just as much. I can not tell you how many people I speak with on a daily basis that are shutting down there farms because they can afford to continue. There families may go hungry too.

farmers*

Also, isn't equating calorie content with quanity a little misleading? A poor child could easily eat a Big Mac extra value meal and take in 3000 calories at 11:00am, and still be hungry at the end of the day. Just because we tend to eat foods with high calorie content doesn't mean that we have nutrition, or that we are full all the time.

Good point Jillness but there are what they refer to as empty calories. Calories which are not beneficial to the body as nutrients.

well we do use to much and eat to much but saying that the 'food crisis' is the States fault is a little over the top. I do see their anger though.

I can see their jealousy. I don't think it is our fault that they haven't bothered to develop better farming practices. That's what we lousy Americans did.

Hate to burst your bubble Undave but America is NOT the richest country in the world, with all your sub prime woes that would be kinda sad if it was. that honour goes to Qatar.It always makes me and my fiends laugh when people say America is the richest nation, most powerful yes,, richest in it's dreams. And why on earth are these Indian scientists going on sub saharan africa, when there are poor hungry people in India and Asia. anyway rice isn't the staple food of many african countries so they need to get their facts straight. If there was a cassava or maize shortage then maybe they could rant on our behalf.

Hate to burst your bubble Undave but America is NOT the richest country in the world, with all your sub prime woes that would be kinda sad if it was. that honour goes to Qatar.It always makes me and my fiends laugh when people say America is the richest nation, most powerful yes,, richest in it's dreams. And why on earth are these Indian scientists going on sub saharan africa, when there are poor hungry people in India and Asia. anyway rice isn't the staple food of many african countries so they need to get their facts straight. If there was a cassava or maize shortage then maybe they could rant on our behalf.

Hate to burst your bubble Undave but America is NOT the richest country in the world, with all your sub prime woes that would be kinda sad if it was. that honour goes to Qatar.It always makes me and my fiends laugh when people say America is the richest nation, most powerful yes,, richest in it's dreams. And why on earth are these Indian scientists going on sub saharan africa, when there are poor hungry people in India and Asia. anyway rice isn't the staple food of many african countries so they need to get their facts straight. If there was a cassava or maize shortage then maybe they could rant on our behalf.

Hate to burst your bubble Undave but America is NOT the richest country in the world, with all your sub prime woes that would be kinda sad if it was. that honour goes to Qatar.It always makes me and my fiends laugh when people say America is the richest nation, most powerful yes,, richest in it's dreams. And why on earth are these Indian scientists going on sub saharan africa, when there are poor hungry people in India and Asia. anyway rice isn't the staple food of many african countries so they need to get their facts straight. If there was a cassava or maize shortage then maybe they could rant on our behalf.

Personally, I think these two issues are somewhat disconnected from one another.

There are actually two main factors that are contributing to the food crisis, one of them being the fact that (as someone else pointed out), people in India and China are actually changing their eating habits because they find themselves in a better economic position (they can now afford to eat more meat, for example - which puts pressure on the cereal industry).

And, as most everyone knows, there's been a huge increase in the use of bio-fuels by developed countries - which means more land is being used to grow crops for fuel than for human consumption.

I think that excessive consumption by first world countries (not just the USA) has ALWAYS been a contentious issue when compared to the kind of poverty that is felt in developing countries. So I can understand that it's now being highlighted as especially worrying considering we're experiencing what some people are calling 'the biggest crisis of the 21st century'.

The worst thing about all this is that most of the people who are eating more than 3000 calories a day probably don't even know that there is a food crisis! Because they can happily go to a drive through and grab a burger for lunch.

Anyway, he's an interesting slideshow about eating habits around the world:

http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1626519_1373664,00.html

India's exploding population is their biggest reason for food shortages, if there was no planning for the population growth then there is no farm explanation to crow more food and I don't eat Indian fish or goat or fowl so i don't get it. I do sometimes eat fruit from Chile in the winter months. It isn't our fault we have enough land to support crops to feed our population. this may sound harsh but to me its a bit different than the droughts in Africa...that's not by choice. They're in a bad situation but it's not because I enjoy MacDonald's or Starbucks from time to time. I do hate to think of anyone being hungry tho, food should be a given everywhere but it is up to each countries government to make sure there is adequate food for each citizen.

I think the US's consumption, and over-consumpation may contribute a little but I think most of the problem with the food crisis is political. There is plenty of food in the world, it just doesn't get to the people who need it because of wars, politics, money, things like that.

I do think that perhaps the fact that we in the US import so much of our food instead of growing it here could contribute to the food crisis as countries are dedicating farm land to growing our food isntead of their own but I don't think that's the case in all countries.