Latest from Food Politics: USDA: Food in the U.S. is a $2.5 trillion business!

The USDA published occasional “charts of note. ”  I thought this one was especially useful. The chart gives an estimate of total spending on food in the U. S. —an astonishing $2. 51 trillion in 2025. $1. 4 trillion goes for food away from home. ...

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By Marion Nestle July 02 2026 USDA: Food in the U.S. is a $2.5 trillion business! The USDA published occasional “charts of note.”  I thought this one was especially useful. The chart gives an estimate of total spending on food in the U.S.—an astonishing $2.51 trillion in 2025. $1.4 trillion goes for food away from home. $1.1 trillion goes for food at home. The data are from USDA’s Food Expenditure Series, June 2026. Despite everything that is cutting into food sales—concerns about ultra-processed foods, GLP-1 drugs, inflation—spending on food has risen steadily since 1997, except during the COVID-19 pandemic. So has the proportion spent on food prepared outside the home.   Home cooking holds steady, but isn’t keeping up. “Eat real food” means it has to be cooked, and it’s likely to be a lot healthier if cooked at home. I learned to cook in 8th grade home economics.  We could use some of that now. The post USDA: Food in the U.S. is a $2.5 trillion business! appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Farmers get short-changed in our current food system Weekend reading: The hidden cost of cheap food What’s happening with prices at the grocery store?   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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