Stop Food Waste Day2026 · Date · History
Compass Group first-party material verifies a 2017 U.S. launch, the first edition on 28 April 2017, global expansion in 2018 and the current annual rule of the last Wednesday in April.
About Stop Food Waste Day
Stop Food Waste Day is a Compass Group-founded awareness campaign held annually on the last Wednesday of April.
Compass Group says the campaign began in the United States in 2017, expanded globally in 2018 and reached its tenth edition in 2026.
Why Stop Food Waste Day matters
The campaign focuses on practical ways to value food and reduce avoidable waste across homes, workplaces and food-service settings.
Reducing waste does not override food safety: spoiled, unsafe or improperly stored food should not be eaten merely to avoid disposal.
History of Stop Food Waste Day
Compass Group USA announced the first National Stop Food Waste Day for April 28, 2017.
On April 27, 2018, Compass Group took the initiative global, involving teams across 30 countries.
The 2018 material described the campaign as taking place each year during the last week of April.
Current Compass Group material states the stable recurrence as the last Wednesday of April; in 2026 the date was April 29 and Compass described it as the tenth edition.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Compass Group USA
Compass Group’s current material says the campaign was founded in 2017, and the 2017 first-party announcement identifies Compass Group USA as the U.S. launch body.
Compass Group USA
Compass Group USA public launch announcement for the first National Stop Food Waste Day
First documented observance
Compass Group USA explicitly called April 28, 2017 the first National Stop Food Waste Day.
Expanded the initiative from its 2017 U.S. launch to a global campaign involving 30 countries.
Compass Group · Compass takes Stop Food Waste Day global
Current Compass material defines the recurring date as the last Wednesday of April, refining the earlier 2018 description of an annual event during the last week of April.
Compass Group · Current Stop Food Waste Day recurring rule
Compass Group
Current Compass Group material continues to operate the campaign, publish the date and provide the campaign toolkit.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe Stop Food Waste Day
Plan meals and purchasing so perishable food is more likely to be used while safe.
Store, chill, freeze and reheat foods according to applicable food-safety guidance rather than relying on waste-reduction goals alone.
Use suitable leftovers promptly and discard food that shows signs of spoilage or has been held unsafely.
Where appropriate, donate eligible surplus food through organizations that can accept it safely and follow allergen, labeling and handling requirements.
Use the current Compass campaign toolkit or local food-waste resources for awareness activities without turning campaign advice into medical or food-safety guarantees.
Stop Food Waste Day Facts
Compass Group USA launched the first National Stop Food Waste Day in 2017.
The first edition was held on April 28, 2017.
Compass Group expanded the initiative globally in 2018.
Current Compass material places the observance on the last Wednesday of April.
Compass identified the 2026 observance on April 29 as the campaign’s tenth edition.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Compass Group USA — first National Stop Food Waste Day (opens in a new tab)
Creator First Party
Compass Group — Stop Food Waste Day 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Creator First Party
Compass Group — Stop Food Waste Day goes global in 2018 (opens in a new tab)
Creator First Party
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stop Food Waste Day?
Last Wednesday in April The documented recurrence rule is: Last Wednesday in April.
Does Stop Food Waste Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Stop Food Waste Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International / Compass Group-founded food-waste campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Stop Food Waste Day?
The reviewed sources identify Compass Group USA as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Compass Group.
Is Stop Food Waste Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International / Compass Group-founded food-waste campaign. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-24.
When is Stop Food Waste Day?
Current Compass Group material places it on the last Wednesday of April.
Who founded Stop Food Waste Day?
Compass Group says the campaign was founded by Compass Group in 2017, with the first U.S. edition led by Compass Group USA.
When was the first Stop Food Waste Day?
Compass Group USA announced the first National Stop Food Waste Day for April 28, 2017.
Did it start as a global event?
No. Compass says it launched in the United States in 2017 and expanded globally in 2018.
Should food be eaten just to avoid waste?
No. Waste reduction should remain subordinate to safe storage, handling, allergen controls and spoilage guidance.
Other observances on April 28
These observances are also listed on April 28, 2027.
International Guide Dog Day
The International Guide Dog Federation states that International Guide Dog Day is celebrated on the last Wednesday in April each year and raises awareness of guide-dog services and their ro…
National Blueberry Pie Day
The U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council explicitly states that National Blueberry Pie Day is celebrated on April 28 each year and repeats the date in other campaign materials.
National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace
The Government of Canada states that the Workers Mourning Day Act established April 28 as the official day observed every year, and current 2026 federal material continues to mark the Day o…
Save The Frogs Day
SAVE THE FROGS! states that Save The Frogs Day takes place on April 28 every year and documents the 18th annual event on April 28, 2026.
Workers Memorial Day
The International Labour Organization states that 28 April has been associated since 1996 with the international trade union movement’s commemoration of victims of occupational accidents an…
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
ILO observance