Brits Waste Almost £520 Annually by Discarding Untouched Food

• Brits are discarding nearly 500 pieces of fruit and veg annually, wasting up to £520
• 53% admit to wasting untouched food, with bananas being the biggest offender
• Many rely on unconventional methods to prolong freshness, often with little success
• Kate Hall offers expert tips to help preserve produce and reduce waste

Aldi's recent study highlights a startling statistic: over half of Brits, about 52%, feel embarrassed about the amount of fruit and vegetables they discard each year. This waste amounts to nearly 500 pieces per household annually, equating to a potential loss of £520 per year. Over 53% of people confess to throwing away food that was never even touched, with the blame largely placed on forgetfulness.

Despite the health-focused mindset that often accompanies the beginning of a new year, a significant portion of purchased fruits, vegetables, and salads ends up in the bin. Common culprits include bananas, potatoes, carrots, and bags of salad—resulting in an average of nine pieces of wasted produce each week.

Awareness about proper food storage remains low, with 46% of people attributing spoilage to storage issues. Social media has become a hub for unconventional storage tips, including foil-wrapped bananas and water-soaked avocados, yet many of these methods might be counterproductive.

Food waste expert Kate Hall advises ten practical tips to extend the life of produce, such as maintaining a fridge temperature of 5°C or lower, separating ethylene-producing fruits, and using kitchen paper to keep salad fresh.

In her own words, Kate highlights the importance of reducing food waste:

“Food waste is a major issue for many households across the UK, wasting both our time and money. However, there are many small changes we can make that can have a big positive impact. By storing our produce differently or adopting a few simple habits, we can significantly reduce food waste, save money, and make sure we actually eat the food we’ve worked hard to pay for.”

Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, adds, "Waste not, want not! With a few tweaks, we could save both money and the planet by making our food go that extra mile."