Seven in 10 brits admit to buying food knowing it will end up in the bin

A STUDY OF 2,000 ADULTS FOUND THE AVERAGE PERSON WASTES THE EQUIVALENT OF £387 A YEAR ON PRODUCE THAT BYPASSES PLATES AND GOES STRAIGHT IN THE BIN ALICE HUGHES 19:29, 20 May 2025 A recent

survey of 2,000 adults in the UK revealed that, on average, each person throws away a staggering £387 worth of food every year. That's a whopping amount that's going straight into

the bin without even making it onto a plate. It seems that 36% of people knowingly buy food that will ultimately end up in the rubbish, without even making a dent in using it. The reasons

behind this wastage vary, but 23% put it down to misjudging portion sizes, 18% forget to check the expiry date, and 24% claim last-minute plans get in the way. Interestingly, 20% of

respondents never think to freeze food to prevent it from going to waste, despite bread, salad leaves, and bananas being among the most commonly binned items. In light of these findings,

Aldi has teamed up with food waste expert Kate Hall to encourage consumers to make the most of their groceries by freezing them at home. This simple hack can not only reduce food waste but

also help shoppers stretch their budgets. Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, commented: "We're committed to reducing food waste wherever we can across our

supply chain, whether that be working with suppliers to cut down on waste, or marking down prices of items nearing their sell by date." "Now we're on a mission to help

shoppers minimise their food waste too, while getting even more value from their groceries at the same time. It seems simple, but the research shows that freezing items still isn't

something many do – so we want to showcase just how easy that can be." The OnePoll.com survey also unveiled the grub folks would never dream of freezing – with eggs, cucumber, and

lettuce making the top 10. A whopping two thirds confessed they don't freeze items like these because they reckon they're not suitable for it – even though that's a myth if

the food is prepped, frozen and reused properly. The study also found that 36% reckon they wouldn't fancy the texture after thawing, while a quarter worry about frozen food losing its

taste. However, a hefty 75% admitted to feeling guilty about binning food, with 31% saying they'd be more likely to consider freezing food if they knew the rules better. Meanwhile, 20%

have previously passed on food to someone else before it goes off, and 18% have even served it up to their pet to avoid chucking it in the bin. Article continues below Aldi has joined forces

with Kate Hall to whip up three recipes to inspire shoppers with easy ways to prevent food waste and save some dosh in the process, as well as sharing top freezing tips for beginners. Kate

remarked: "It's no surprise most of us feel guilty about throwing food away, but you might not expect to find the solution is already in your kitchen." "Using your

freezer is such a simple way to press pause on your food so it doesn't end up in the bin. Freezing food can help our budgets stretch further, and you can actually freeze a lot more than

people realise. The trick is knowing the best way to freeze food and what to do with it after freezing."