UK households needlessly waste more than £10bn-worth of food every year, according to new research from WRAP, the Waste & Resources Action Programme.
The figure is £2bn higher than previous estimates, says WRAP.
An average household throws out £420 of good food a year, and an average family with children £610.
More than half the good food thrown out is bought and left unused.
Thrown away each day are:
• 1.3 million unopened yogurt pots
• 5,500 whole chickens
• 440,000 ready meals
More than £1bn-worth of wasted food is still within its sell-by date.
WRAP chief executive Liz Goodwin described the findings as “shocking”.
She said: “Food waste has a significant environmental impact. This research confirms that it is an issue for us all, whether as consumers, retailers, local or central Government.
“I believe it will spark a major debate about the way food is packaged, sold, stored at home, cooked and then collected when it is thrown out.”
