Abstract
Upcycled food has been promoted as providing an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable use of food that would otherwise be wasted. Our review of existing research examines whether upcycling food supports these three pillars of sustainability and, if so, how. While research is still limited, it suggests that upcycling food can be both environmentally friendly and cost-effective, depending on the type of food, the methods used, and what ingredients it replaces. Social benefits include job creation, increased incomes for growers, and improved job security. While not well studied, there may also be unintended negative consequences on food security from the upcycled food industry. To ensure the most sustainable use of otherwise wasted food, assessments should consider environmental, social, and economic impacts together.