Stores are unable to sell items past their expiration date due to regulations and consumers' belief that the food is expired , while it is generally still safe to eat but is just past its peak. quality. (USDA, 2013) Food is also wasted once purchased. 32% of all food bought by UK households each year goes uneaten and ends up in landfill – a huge waste. More than three million people die each year from obesity-related causes. There are a growing number of people becoming obese: in America, 34.9% of people are obese. This figure is up from 27.9% in 2013. (The Economist Intelligence Unit, 2014) Obesity contributes to lack of food security due to the amount of food consumed by obese people. Eliminating obesity could lead to a 6% increase in available food. (Lipinski et al., 2013) The problem, however, is that food insecurity can also cause obesity. When fast food options are more accessible and the cost of healthy alternatives is too high, people opt for the easier, cheaper option. This leads to obesity and nutritional deficiencies may also be evident. (Unity, 2014) It is therefore essential to change people's attitudes towards food in the Western world; this could be more easily achieved through education. In countries like New Zealand, where every product is subject to a goods and services tax, it could be beneficial to remove the tax on unprocessed foods, thereby lowering their price and encouraging people to choose a healthier consumption option.