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 one year, reaching an estimated 2.5 billion shekels (approximately $675 million USD). This surge occurred despite the actual quantity of food thrown away remaining stable at around 260,000 tons. The average Israeli family is expected to spend about 4,100 shekels on food for the holidays, with roughly 850 shekels worth of that food ending up as waste.

The food loss occurs throughout the supply chain, from agricultural production to consumption. Data from Leket Israel and the consulting firm BDO reveals a significant increase in the monetary value of discarded food, jumping from 1.3 billion shekels in 2023 to 1.4 billion in 2025, and now to 2.5 billion shekels this year, a nearly 79% rise in just one year. For individual households, the value of wasted food has increased by approximately 42% compared to last year.

Beyond the financial loss, the waste represents a significant squandering of resources. An estimated 41 million cubic meters of water, equivalent to about 12,500 Olympic swimming pools, used in the production of this discarded food, will be wasted during the holiday period alone. This is particularly concerning given the ongoing drought, water scarcity, and extreme heatwaves impacting Israeli agriculture.

Gidi Kroch, CEO of Leket Israel, highlighted the absurdity of the situation, noting that families are struggling with the cost of living while billions of shekels worth of food, along with the water, land, energy, and labor invested in it, are thrown away. He emphasized that holiday joy should not be measured by the amount of leftover food.

The increased consumption during the High Holidays, characterized by more meals, hosting, and visiting, contributes to over-purchasing. The desire to ensure no one goes without leads to buying excess food, a portion of which ultimately remains unused and is discarded.