Starbucks to start donating leftover food to food banks

Starbucks announced it will aim to donate all of its leftover food from its 7,000-plus U.S. locations to food banks.

The company said it will attempt to contribute 100 percent of its leftover food to Feeding America, a non-profit organization that runs a national network of food banks.

According to Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, the idea came from baristas behind the counter.

The company said it plans to give out 5 million meals in 2016 and has invested in research to determine the best way to ensure the food stays safe until it is consumed.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 30 to 40 percent of America's food supply is wasted.

According to Feeding America, 48.1 million Americans at some point during 2014 struggled against hunger.

Feeding America serves more than 46 million people through its food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, according to its website.