Food Check-Out Day

Wednesday, February 6, is Food Check-Out Day in the United States, the day the average American has earned enough to pay for their family’s food supply for the entire year.

"Utilizing statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture, the American Farm Bureau annually calculates how many days the average person must work to pay for the year’s food supply," said Diane Olson, director of promotion and education for the Missouri Farm Bureau.

"Food Check-Out Day falls on February 6, just 36 days into the year," Olson said. "What makes this even more remarkable is this determination includes foods eaten both at home and away from home.

"Americans must work much longer to pay for other expenses. To put Food Check-Out Day into perspective, it takes an average of 52 days to pay for medical care; 62 days for housing and household operation; and 116 days to pay for federal, state and local taxes - Tax Freedom Day which fell on April 30 last year.

Volunteers unpack bags and boxes of donated groceries for the Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. The same was repeated at other Ronald McDonald Houses across the state as one of many events during Food Check-Out Day.

"The average American spends approximately 10 percent of their disposable income for food," Olson said. "To demonstrate the affordability of food in America, consider the percentage spent on food in Japan is about 14 percent, Israel 20 percent, China 26 percent, the Philippines 38 percent, and Indonesia 55 percent."

County Farm Bureaus in Missouri conducted Food Check-Out Week promotions February 3-9. In addition to in-store and media activities, donated food items are delivered to Ronald McDonald Houses across the state. "It is our way of sharing with those who find themselves in a situation where they need help feeding their families," said Olson.
Click here to return to the P&E Index.	Volunteers like Dennis Freezor, Moniteau County Farm Bureau President, walked through the Capitol February 5 delivering Missouri-made products with a message. The food items in the special cup come from Missouri companies and attached was a message on the affordability of American's food supply, thanks to our farmers and ranchers.