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5 months ago
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Food waste is a major problem in the UK, with Britons throwing away a whopping 9.5 million tonnes of produce every year.
Aside from being extremely wasteful, food waste can also contribute to climate change, because it releases huge amounts of methane gas as it breaks down.
Despite this, a new survey led by AO.com has revealed that the average Briton bins £450-worth of freezable foods a year.
Over the course of a lifetime, that equates to a staggering £35,000!
'In the wake of the cost-of-living crisis, the findings that Brits are binning the equivalent of a month's worth of food every year is really shocking – especially when this figure equates to more than the average UK salary in a person's lifetime,' said Sarah Heap, food storage expert at AO.com.A
A new survey led by AO.com has revealed that the average Briton bins £450-worth of freezable foods a year
Food waste is a major problem in the UK, with Britons throwing away a whopping 9.5 million tonnes of produce every year
| Fruit and veg | 53 | £272.48 |
| Bread | 51 | £72.80 |
| Milk | 47 | £33.80 |
| Meat and fish | 43 | £249.60 |
| Yoghurt | 41 | £43.16 |
| Potatoes | 38 | £46.28 |
| Stock | 37 | £13.00 |
| Cheese | 36 | £108.42 |
| Eggs | 36 | £64.48 |
| Herbs | 36 | £65.00 |
For the survey, AO.com asked 3,000 Britons about their weekly food shop.
The results revealed that the average Briton spends £85.72 – 10 per cent of which ends up in the bin.
This is despite the fact that many food items can be frozen to prolong their shelf-life.
'Many of the essential food items that are ending up in the bin could actually be saved,' Ms Heap explained.
'By portioning out these items at the start of the week and filling up the freezer, Brits could save money and reduce their food waste.'
Somewhat unsurprisingly, fruits and vegetables top the list as the most commonly thrown out items, with the average UK household chucking them out 53 times a year.
This is followed by breads (51 times a year), milk (47 times a year), and meat and fish (43 times a year).
Yoghurt is the fifth most commonly binned item (41 time a year), followed by potatoes (38 times a year), and stock (37 times a year).
Meanwhile, the average UK household bins cheese, eggs, and herbs 37 times a year, according to to the survey.
AO.com hopes the findings will encourage Britons to consider freezing food items nearing the end of their sell-by date.
'It's important people make the most of the way they store foods to prolong shelf life,' Ms Heap added.
AO.com hopes the findings will encourage Britons to consider freezing food items nearing the end of their sell-by date
'For example, all the items listed in our survey can be frozen – such as bread, cheese, stock and potatoes – if prepared in the right way first.'
According to Wrap (Waste and Resources Action Programme), there are several things your household can do to reduce your food waste.
This includes using a portion planner and swapping out fresh foods for frozen options which last much longer.
'By cutting food waste the average UK household can save £500 each year and positively contribute to the UK's waste reduction targets,' Wrap said.
HOW MUCH FOOD DOES THE WORLD WASTE EACH YEAR?
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, about 2.9 trillion pounds (or a third of the food in the world) is lost or wasted every year.
Fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers make up the most-wasted foods.
In industrialized countries, this all amounts to $680 billion in food. In developing countries, it's $310 billion.
The average waste per capita in Europe and North America is 95-115 kg, or 209-254 lb, ever year.
The food lost or wasted in Latin America each year is enough to feed 300 million people. In Europe, it could feed 200 million people, and in Africa, it could feed 300 million people.
