A new study from Tesco reveals that nine in 10 (92%) shoppers don’t always know what they already have in their kitchens before heading to the supermarket.
Despite 65% of shoppers acknowledging that a store cupboard stock take would help them reduce food waste, 80% don’t always do this. Tesco says this leads to increased spending, duplicate purchases, incomplete meals and food waste.
The research also found 68% of people have purchased food without realising they already have the same item waiting at home.
62% of UK adults have missed items from their food shop because they mistakenly believed they already had the item and as a consequence, 53% have had to change meal plans.
The research, commissioned by Tesco via YouGov, revealed that 73% 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, Tesco says.
A little planning can help to spend less and reduce food waste, helping both our pockets and the planet.
Much of the food going to waste is produce that is often stored out of sight in kitchens. Baked goods such as loaves and rolls are thrown out by 60% of households that admit to having ever thrown out unused store cupboard items.
27% of such households bin jars of condiments, such as ketchup and mustard. Even tinned produce is going to waste, with 13% of offending households throwing away cans of beans or tuna fish.
Tesco is encouraging the nation to implement a Use Up Day where once a week, people cook a meal using up food already in their kitchen, without needing to go out to buy more. By doing this, Tesco says the average family could reduce the amount of food thrown away at home by a third, which equates to a potential financial saving of £260 per year.
Tesco Head of Campaigns, Tony McElroy, says: “At Tesco, we want our customers to be able to get more out of their food shop whilst keeping delicious meals on the table.
“That’s why we’re encouraging shoppers to implement a weekly Use Up Day, take stock of what they have in their kitchens and make a shopping list before going out to shop. A little planning can help to spend less and reduce food waste, helping both our pockets and the planet.”