Fruit and veg dominate list of UK’s most-binned foods list, with potatoes, bananas and carrots also among the top casualties
Salad leaves top the UK’s most-wasted foods list, with more than one in four Brits (27 per cent) regularly throwing them away, according to research from home appliance brand AEG.
The reseach also found that fresh produce features prominently among Britain’s most commonly binned foods, with potatoes ranking third behind bread. Bananas, carrots and ‘other fruits’ also made the list.
Over half (52 per cent) of Brits blame food going off too quickly for wastage, while a quarter (25 per cent) cite overbuying and poor meal planning.
AEG said that food is often perceived to have gone off due to its appearance, with incorrect storage and a misunderstanding of visual signs of spoilage potentially contributing to unecessary waste.
A spokesperson for the company said: “A lot of people will judge whether an item of food has gone off or is unsafe to eat purely based on visual appearance, which can lead to many food items being thrown away before they need to be, when in reality they can still be cooked and taste just as good.
“Wilted salad or slightly softer vegetables don’t mean the food has gone bad - in many cases they can be rehydrated or cooked and will taste just as good. A lot of foods don’t go off as quickly as people think, and the reason for them spoiling is often because they haven’t been stored properly.”
Michael Forbes, product training manager at AEG, highlighted several simple ways to extend the shelf life of fresh produce, including placing a paper towel in a bag of salad leaves, keeping vegetables in the fridge drawer and checking fridge temperature.
The research also found that while almost half of Brits (48 per cent) said they were self-aware of their wasteful habits, only one in ten (10 per cent) said they make a conscious effort to avoid food waste entirely.
AEG said that educating consumers on the difference between sell-by, use-by and best-before dates would go a long way in preventing food waste. The research found that one in six adults can’t explain the difference between the three.
The study, which surveyed 4,000 UK adults, was revealed by AEG in support of their latest campaign, Food for thought: The Waste Less Index, which aims to highlight the common misconceptions pushing people to throw away perfectly good food.
