Israeli Food Waste Soars to $675 Million During High Holidays

The financial value of food wasted in Israel during the High Holidays has nearly doubled in a year, reaching an estimated 2.5 billion shekels (approximately $675 million), according to a report by Leket Israel and the consulting firm BDO. This surge in monetary loss occurred despite the actual quantity of food being discarded remaining stable at around 260,000 tons.

The average Israeli family is expected to spend approximately 4,100 shekels on food for the High Holidays, with about 850 shekels worth of that food being thrown away. This represents a significant increase from previous years, where the wasted food value was 1.3 billion shekels in 2023 and 1.4 billion in 2025.

The waste occurs across the entire supply chain, from agricultural production to consumption. The report highlights that the wasted food also represents the loss of approximately 41 million cubic meters of water used in its production, a critical issue given the ongoing drought and water scarcity affecting Israeli agriculture. Extreme heatwaves and fluctuating rainfall in 2025 have exacerbated these challenges.

Gidi Kroch, CEO of Leket Israel, described the situation as absurd, noting that families are struggling with the cost of living while billions of shekels worth of food, along with the resources invested in it, go to waste. He emphasized that the joy of the holidays should not be measured by the amount of leftover food, especially that which is discarded.