- Brits bin £35,000 worth of freezable essential food items in their lifetime, a new study by leading electrical retailer AO.com reveals
- Common, easy-to-freeze items like bread, fruit and veg are being tossed over ‘missed’ sell-by dates, the data found, with Brits binning a month’s worth of food each year
- The ‘shocking’ wastage figure, which tops the average UK salary, has been released to raise awareness of how to store food and reduce food waste
- In light of the findings, AO.com has partnered with influencer Kate Hall of The Full Freezer method to help Brits improve fridge and freezer habits this summer. The collaboration will feature educational interactive videos, how-to guides and inspirational advice to address the UK-wide food waste problem
The average Brit bins £450 worth of freezable essential foods a year – or £35,000 in their lifetime – a new study by leading electrical retailer AO.com has revealed.
The survey of more than 3,000 respondents revealed that the average Brit spends £85.72 on their weekly grocery shop – before throwing away 10% of the items bought.
Essential groceries such as bread, vegetables and fruit were listed as the most likely items to end up in the bin, as Brits admitted to struggling to eat food before it goes out of date.
However, analysis from AO.com has revealed that common items that are ending up in the bin can easily be frozen to prolong shelf-life, and could save Brits on average £450 a year – the equivalent of an entire average monthly food shop.
Worst offending items: Most common food essentials thrown out by Brits in the UK, revealed:
- Fruit and veg – £5.24 a week from grocery shop, £272.48 per year
Thrown out 53 times a year on average (over once a week) - Breads – £1.40 a week, £72.80 per year
Thrown out 51 times a year on average (once a week) - Milk – £0.65 a week, £33.80 per year
Thrown out 47 times a year on average (every 10 days) - Meat and fish – £4.80 a week, £249.60 per year
Thrown out 43 times a year on average (every 10-12 days) - Yoghurt – £0.83 a week, £43.16 per year
Thrown out 41 times a year on average (every 12-14 days) - Potatoes – £0.89 a week, £46.28 per year
Thrown out 38 times a year (every 14-18 days) - Stock – £0.25 a week, £13 per year
Thrown out 37 times a year (every 2-3 weeks) - Cheese – £2.08 a week, £108.42 per year
Thrown out 36 times a year (every 2-3 weeks) - Eggs – £1.24 a week, £64.48 per year
Thrown out 36 times a year (every 2-3 weeks) - Herbs – £1.25 a week, £65 per year
Thrown out 36 times a year (every 2-3 weeks)
The study found fruit and vegetables as the worst offending items, with Brits admitting to throwing them out most frequently throughout the week. With the estimated grocery spend on fruit and vegetables coming in at £5.24 a week, this tots up to £272.48 per year – or a whopping £21,798.40 in a lifetime.
Additionally, it found a THIRD (36%) of households throw out bread at least once a week, despite it being freezable – wasting around £72 a year.
Brits are better at using up milk, with the majority throwing this fridge staple out less than once a month, whilst a third (36%) said they never throw it away at all.
Commenting on the findings, Sarah Heap, food storage expert at AO.com, said:
“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.
“However, our study found that many of the essential food items that are ending up in the bin could actually be saved. 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.
“Technology also has its role to play in helping us to live more sustainably, and it’s important people make the most of the way they store foods to prolong shelf life. 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.”
In light of the findings, AO.com have partnered with influencer Kate Hall, known as The Full Freezer, to help Brits make the most of food storage options and reduce waste in their households.
A new ‘cooling’ and refrigeration hub will also be launched later this month, to help Brits with expert hacks and helpful advice, as well as inspirational content.
To access the free expert advice and hacks, visit the AO.com website.
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