This 2014 study by the OECD entitled “Food Waste Along the Food Chain,” OECD researchers compiled and analyzed publicly available data and policy information to develop a number of broad descriptive findings. Individual economy-level data for food waste and loss at the household level was found to be robust while little is recorded for the food manufacturing and food service sectors. Policy and legislative analysis provided that most economies have legal frameworks to manage waste already specifically adapted to food. Research concluded that based on data collected, when policy emphasis shifts from waste management itself to improving overall production efficiency, the gains are far greater in terms of edible food production that is saved. The key concern highlighted was a lack of standardization among definitions for food loss and waste in order to develop global standards within increasingly globalized food production.

The OECD’s 2015 report on the “Market and Trade Impacts of Food Loss and Waste Reduction” summarizes forward looking analysis of food loss reduction impacts. The report examines projections by the Aglink-Cosimo model for the period 2014 through to 2023, applying FAO estimates of producer loss and consumer waste. The core cost assumption is a 20% reduction in wastage at no cost over the projection period. The financial impact is suggested to be upwards of USD 2.5 trillion dollars for the projection period primarily due to decreased consumer spending as demand falls with decreased waste and therefore consumption need. Additionally, reduced production losses will further reduce prices due to increased supply.

The OECD food waste dataset is a compilation of food loss and food waste data for 32 economies spanning the years 1993 to 2013. Data availability varies by country by year across the entire compilation period. Several data sources are utilized: data from international organisations, government and national statistic institutes, OECD delegations, academic studies, and private sector and governmental analytical reports. When available, detailed information on sources is provided in the "variable def. and sources" section (ex. specific references to an accessible academic article or a government website).

The case of the United Kingdom’s Waste and Resources Action Program (WRAP) is a main focus point of this 2015 OECD report on two international case studies for food waste policies. The UK’s WRAP effort is of high relevance to consumer, manufacture, and retail food waste reduction. The key observation is that while the potential to further reduce waste exists, the marginal improvements will become increasingly challenging. The WRAP program reduced household food waste by 15% over five years, 2007 through 2012 despite the number of households increasing by 4% in the same period. Similarly, manufacture and retail waste fell by 10% from 2009 to 2012. The WRAP effort utilizes an evidence-based strategy to build clear and compelling recommendations for public communication to consumers, industry, and other stakeholders. Recommendations are backed up with monitoring and data sharing of collective targets which allows for recognition of achievements and sharing of best practices. The public nature of target setting and achievement is thought to be effective at spurring waste reduction.

This 2014 report from the USDA utilizes its Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates of national food loss in the United States. Estimates were based on aggregation of over 200 individual foods with retail prices determining the economic loss of wastage. Associated calories are also presented based on figures determined by the ERS. A unique conclusion from the study highlights that food loss is economically efficient in certain cases as there exists a practical limit to realistic prevention, reduction, or recovery of food for human consumption due to time, space, taste, and technical constraints.