Households discard €1k worth of food a year

HOUSEHOLDS lose up to €1,000 a year by throwing away uneaten food.

The waste could be avoided by planning shopping trips and using leftovers in meals and drinks.

Fruits and vegetables are among the main foods dumped along with bread.

“We have all been guilty of wasting food at some point and it’s all too easily done with busy and demanding schedules,” said chef Rachel Allen.

“But with just a bit of extra thought and some forward planning, we can definitely avoid it.”

She was among a number of top chefs who took time out of the kitchen yesterday to advise people how to reduce food waste.

Launching the Stop Food Waste Movement campaign, chefs and environmentalists gave tips on how to save money and cut down on the 300kg of black bin rubbish thrown out by the average person each year.

A survey by the Environmental Protection Agency — the state body behind the campaign— found 30% of purchased food ends up in the waste bin at an average cost of €1,000 per household.

In addition, 51% of those admitted to throwing away food regularly. The survey revealed the main foods thrown out include apples, bananas, grapes, lettuce, potatoes and carrots. Other foods regularly thrown out include bread, condiments like spreads, jams, relishes, sauces as well as yoghurts, dairy desserts and food leftovers.

Odile Le Bolloch, EPA campaign spokesperson said: “This type of food waste can be avoided by either not over purchasing in the first place, or finding ways of incorporating the over supply into meals or drinks.”

Tips to stop waste:

* Don’t shop when you are hungry.!

* Plan your meals ahead.

* Check fridge, freezer and cupboards before shopping.

* Stick to the list.

* Beware of special deals — great for toilet rolls and shampoo but bad for fruit and veg best eaten fresh.

* www.stopfoodwaste.ie