Public want honesty on supermarket food waste

Supermarkets should be more honest about the food they throw away and focus on better waste prevention techniques, according to public opinion.


Following revelations earlier this month that three of the four big supermarkets in the UK refused to publicly divulge how much food they waste each year, edie polled over 400 users to gauge their views on the issue.

The results showed that 41% of respondents felt greater transparency was needed among the major food retailers when it came to food waste, with 31% believing better prevention methods were key to tackling the problem.

Meanwhile under a third of respondents (28%) thought more responsibility should fall on the consumer in terms of purchasing behaviour.

Out of the ‘big four’ supermarkets approached by Channel 4 News – Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s – only Sainsbury’s would reveal how much food waste it generated last year.

Maxine Perella

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