Most shoppers don’t know what they already have in their kitchens before heading to the supermarket, according to a new study by Tesco. Despite 65% of shoppers acknowledging that a store cupboard stock take would help them reduce food waste, the majority (80%) don’t always do this, and instead hit the aisles or order in a takeaway without checking what they already have.
This leads to increased spending, duplicate purchases, incomplete meals and ultimately, food ending up in the bin as ingredients are overlooked and left to spoil.
The research, commissioned by Tesco via YouGov, revealed that three quarters of UK households have thrown away forgotten items lurking in cupboards, fridges and freezers that they never got around to eating. The amount of edible food an average UK household wastes each year equates to approximately £800.
