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    <title><![CDATA[Discussion on $282 million of turkey trashed during U.S. Thanksgiving ]]></title>
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        <title><![CDATA[No Turkey here]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84984]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[We're able to get the free-range, organic, anti-biotic free, etc. turkey from the farmer down the road. And those turkeys are fantastic. According to industry standards, just right for a family of 4. Even so, we usually end up only eating half of it because being so meaty, it's very filling.But that's why we have a freezer. And why we have a stock pot. A single bird doesn't get completely finished for 3 months. I'm very thankful for freezers and stock pots.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84984]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[mheartwood]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 27 Nov 2012 14:00:32 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Thanksgiving]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84829]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I think Squanto made an error in judgement. So now there are too many fat Americans. Thanks.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84829]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[veetmeter]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 26 Nov 2012 21:59:10 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[no waste here.]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84264]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[We do not over-prepare or make too much. 90% of the human-edible stuff is eaten by humans before Monday morning. We have abig family and it pretty much gets eaten up. Of the remaining 10% or so, which will start to spoil, the cat gets maybe 4% of the now-aging meat over the next week, the dog gets a little less meat but he does get, and is thankful for, any remaining vegetables which are OK for him and he likes them. By then, the slight remaining flesh is really not possible to get off the skeleton so into the compost pile it goes. As far as cooking by products, we do not eat the skin, the dog gets it (and is thankful). and the parts of the plants that are not eaten all go on the c-pile in the back. the juice, sauce, etc whatever goes over the dry dog food eventually. No it is not waste to feed pets off the meat and vegetable remains (withholding sugars, chocolate, and other things that would harm them). They have to eat anyway. Cats are obligate carnivores and dogs are omnivores. Meat-prepared-for-people is OK protein for them, in small amounts served as treats (not as meals because it does not have the necessary different vitamins for cats or dogs).So, should the study, so studiously conducted, count the 4% of the meat left on the turkey skeleton as part of the waste? It should not. If $282M is the figure, that is almost $1 for each person in the USA. There is not $1 worth of meat on those bones when they depart from here.But let's talk about the 4% or so, of the meat itself, that ends up on the c-pile. Or in the trash, granted and no harm done. If that is considered waste, so be it, but there is always a baseline in any process, no process is 100% efficient, so I postulate that anyone achieving a 90-96% usage factor of their turkey meat should not be counted (accused) in the waste tabulation.I'm not sure who is doing all of the wasting. Dana Gunders, whom the author quotes as perhaps even a more august expert on this, says &quot;half&quot; and uses the word &quot;we&quot; in her quoted confession. Perhaps she has an iguana in her pocket. I would say &quot;a possum in her pocket&quot;, but a possum, or here the opossum (specifically Didelphis virginiana) would not ever waste half a dead turkey, no sir it would just not happen. No waste, no waste guilt.As for the larger figure of food wasted.. let's see where that happens. I know where some of it is.For one, in institutions. Schools, public gradeschools and high schools. They are required to overbuy, overcook, overproduce in order to provide (excessive/many) choices for the children to pick from. Catering to the whims of children. This waste is paid by school taxes and is one reason they are so high. In a society with discipline, one does not allow children to tell an adult what the child will eat. The child is informed of what they will eat when they see it on their plate! Where is the discipline? Except for special dietary requirements prescribed by a physician, what is wrong with a standard single selection meal, different each day, with at most a substitute vegetable in case someone really hates brussel sprouts and would rather have the potato? Why are three entrees offered, each day, to minors, and having had so much food made as to allow free choice of all, 2/3 is liable to be wasted?The next example is in prisons. It is like the school situation but far worse, because the namby-pamby laws say that those who are in prison get to pick from a menu (Illinois is one state like that) and there are three choices of meals at each meal time, so that none of the convicts, (who are there to be punished by the way, right?), have to be offended by whatever fresh hot meal they would be otherwise kindly handed. The monkeys are running the zoo. Until idiocies like the school and prison food waste are fixed, such idiocies being the most costly because the government is in charge, corrupt, being overcharged, and using contractors to run it, I don't what to see whining or breast-beating about food waste.Here in  little while I am going to leave, and will later tomorrow participate in the feast. Ok, I am willing to do my part. let me know your address, and I will send you the turkey's skeleton. Happy Thanksgiving.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84264]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[opcom]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:32:07 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Waste? Not here!]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84241]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I just made a 16 pound fresh turkey that was on sale for $0.99/lb. I save the drippings which I freeze and later use as a base for soup. I then carve all the meat off the frame. I feast on the frame, picking off all edible bits. Delicious! The skin is roasted until crispy. Sort of like turkey jerky! Over the next week my wife and I devoured the rest of the meat with unmitigated enjoyment. Looking forward to Thanksgiving at my sister's next Thursday!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84241]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[xrayangiodoc]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:19:09 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Another wasteful example]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84186]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[My wife's nephew (he's 54) insists on a turkey being on the table every Thanksgiving...and he hates turkey. It could be thrown out after the meal as far as he is concerned, and his wife trashes the leftovers from what the guests don't eat. She doesn't like turkey, either. Why have it, then? &quot;It's traditional,&quot; he says. &quot;It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a turkey.&quot; But is he thankful otherwise? Nope.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84186]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[justajo]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:24:25 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Double counting]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84183]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[&quot;In addition to the $282 million worth of turkey going into the trash, resources necessary for the production of the birds will also be wasted,&quot;The resources would still be used if the turkey was eaten. Unless you mean production is inefficient.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84183]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[RobSlack]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:13:07 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[It will take care of itself]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84179]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[I wouldn't worry about American farmers producing too much food. With global agricultural output not increasing fast enough to feed the world's growing population, it won't be long before food will become a lot more expensive and even Americans will have to cut back. We see it now in the increased imports of American grain to China.One day Americans will look back to when we wasted food with a great deal of fondness, and terms like &quot;quarter pounder&quot; will fade into distant memory.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84179]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[zackers]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:02:42 -0800</pubDate>
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    <item>
        <title><![CDATA[Bigger is better, right?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84191]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Is that really food what we are throwing away? Well, part of it yes, but then there is all kinds of growth hormones, antibiotics and pesticides in our daily diet. Could this be the reason why turkeys are so oversized today compared to 20 years ago? And human beings - do we already consider obesity normal in our society? Bigger is better in this land of plenty, right? Bigger until our joints break and our hearts struggle with our XXXL-bodies. Yes, it is wrong to through away anything that is somehow considered food, but honestly: I'd rather not even eat half of these genetically modified and pharmaceutics-stuffed turkeys. Happy Thanksgiving!]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84191]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Wolfik]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:59:31 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Trashing turkey]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84159]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[This does not happen in my household. All that is required is to &quot;right-size&quot; your bird. My family (4 adults) buys a 10-12 lb bird, and we eat all of it. I wouldn't take a 20+ lb bird even if it was free because we simply couldn't eat so much.Wasting food is bad no matter when, so use some intelligence when you buy.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84159]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Starman35]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:28:50 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[farmer efficiency]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84158]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Several years ago I read that American farmers are so efficient at producing food the result is 3,500 calories per day per person.  Since the average person only needs 2,000 calories per day per person, the food industry has had to get clever at convincing people that bigger portions are more desirable.  Enter the advertising industry.  With that kind of excess production, across the board waste is almost a foregone conclusion.  What's sad is that there is still hunger in America.  It's mostly hidden, but it's there.  If you don't believe me, talk to the people that staff your local food pantry and ask about demand trends.  If you want to lift your holiday spirits, lend a hand to the effort to eradicate American hunger, especially among children.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84158]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[wally_altoona]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:15:47 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[Tyler Falk, are you American?]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84150]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Your topic headline is VERY catchy &quot;$282 million of turkey trashed during U.S. Thanksgiving&quot;, but it show very little gratitude for the fact that America is at least celebrating the giving of thanks.  Few other countries celebrate the giving of thanks.  So don't trash my turkey (or other food) eating habits.  May an article on &quot;How Not To Waste $282 Million After Thanksgiving&quot;.I am thankful that you are a writer for Smartplanet.com, because I love Smartplanet.com.Thank you,Elvis G.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84150]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Elvis.GodZilla.777]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:14:10 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[When taking about waste]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84155]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[As a McDonalds employee from the early 90's, I can vouch for that food being perfectly good days later - well, at least edible  - but the prevalence of regulations and lawyers has stifled reason.  As an atheist, I'm not one to quote the bible, but many of the moral lessons are valid - &quot;When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien.&quot;Same goes for Medical options.  Giving everyone free insurance doesn't fix the reason people need insurance for a simple physical.That waste cost is less than $1 per person in the US.  I have a feeling we're exaggerating the issue, and a large percentage (I'll make up a 95% number) have leftovers and little goes to waste.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84155]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[Havokmon]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2012 06:42:35 -0800</pubDate>
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        <title><![CDATA[No waste here...]]></title>
        <link><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84125]]></link>
        <description><![CDATA[Turkey sandwiches for the next several days and then the turkey broth. I consider turkeys as renewable sources. If waste is your thing how about the waste of energy.]]></description>
        <guid><![CDATA[http://www.smartplanet.com/forum/discussions/1-12603-84125]]></guid>
        <dc:creator><![CDATA[kralspaces]]></dc:creator>
        <pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2012 18:08:38 -0800</pubDate>
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