According to figures published by the Love Food Hate Waste campaign, fruit and vegetables account for almost half of the 6.7 million tonnes of food being binned each year, most of which could have been eaten.

A study carried out by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) the main reason food is thrown out is, unsurprisingly, because our eyes are bigger than our bellies and it is going off before it can be eaten.

The problem is aggravated by the fact that most fruit and veg is being stored at room temperature, when putting it in the fridge could add up to two weeks to its edible lifespan.

Dr Liz Goodwin, WRAP’s chief executivesaid: “These dramatic figures show that although we are all keen to do the right thing buying plenty of fruit and vegetables, the benefit is clearly being lost when food gets thrown out untouched.

“By following some simple tips and advice which can be found on our website, we can all be saving money as well as helping the environment.”

In an effort to persuade consumers to reduce their waste, WRAP has teamed up with supermarket giant Sainsbury’s to run a series of in-store promotions advising customers on the best ways to store perishable produce and suggesting new ways to use fruit and veg in an attempt to offer inspiration.

Apples top the list of wasted food stuffs, followed by potatoes, bananas, tomatoes and oranges.

Sam Bond

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