New Aldi research shows food waste costs UK households £520 annually

As the new year inspires many to embrace healthier eating, supermarket Aldi has revealed the startling extent of food waste in UK households.
According to a survey of 2,000 people, more than half (52%) admit to discarding untouched fruit and vegetables, wasting up to £520 annually.
On average, 53% of respondents confessed to throwing away food that hasn’t been touched, while 56% admitted to forgetting about items they had purchased.
Despite efforts to eat healthily, the data shows that households discard at least nine pieces of fruit and vegetables each week, totalling 468 annually.
Bananas emerged as the most commonly wasted item, with households throwing away an average of 114 bananas a year. Other commonly wasted items include:
- 99 potatoes
- 94 carrots
- 88 oranges
- 88 bags of salad
- 83 onions
- 73 boxes of strawberries
- 73 cauliflowers
Nearly one-quarter of respondents reported eating only half a bag of salad before having to throw the rest away, highlighting storage and usage challenges.
Food Storage Challenges and Solutions
The study found that 46% of respondents believe improper food storage contributes to food waste, while 57% admitted they are not confident in how to store food to keep it fresh.
Some households have turned to unconventional methods, such as hanging onions outside windows or wrapping banana stems in foil, to prolong freshness.
Home food waste expert Kate Hall has offered practical tips to help households make better use of their produce, including keeping fridge temperatures below 5°C and separating ethylene-emitting fruits like bananas and apples from ethylene-sensitive items such as berries and cherries.
- Keep it cold – If your fridge is warmer than 5°C, your food won’t last as long as it could.
- Check your drawers – Thin-skinned, high-moisture foods like salad leaves should be stored in high-humidity drawers, while thicker-skinned produce like apples should be stored in low-humidity drawers.
- Pop your potatoes in the fridge – Potatoes are best stored in the fridge which can help them last over three times longer! If you don’t have enough fridge space, keep them in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area like the garage and away from onions.
- Give your leaves a helping hand – Help your bagged salad leaves last a few days longer by placing a sheet of kitchen paper into the container they are stored in to absorb any excess moisture.
- Beware of Ethylene Gas – Certain fruits and veggies like bananas, apples and tomatoes emit high levels of ethylene gas (a natural gas that’s produced as fruit ripens), which can cause your other ethylene-sensitive produce, such as berries, cherries and grapes, to ripen and ruin faster – so keep them separate!
- Don’t bin your bananas – If your bananas are already ripe and you don’t want them to ripen any more, either keep them in a sealed tub or the fridge – or hang them on a hook in a cool dry space. You can freeze slices of banana too for quick snacks and recipes.
- Always check your berries – If there is one single mouldy berry hiding away in your punnet, then microscopic spores can easily and quickly contaminate the rest. Try to only wash them before you eat so not to add more unnecessary moisture.
- Don’t pre-prep your fruit or veg – Whilst some people will swear by prepping ahead to get their daily dose of goodness, this can lead to your produce spoiling faster. To help your fruit and veg last as long as possible, keep its outer armour intact until you’re ready to eat it.
- Give your veg a drink – If you see veg going a bit ‘bendy’, try trimming the ends and submerging them in cold water. Often veg has not gone bad, it’s just dehydrated!
- Take it back – If you’re not happy with the freshness of your fruit or veg, take it back! For example, Aldi allows customers to return fresh fruit and vegetables for a full refund if they are not satisfied with their purchase as part of their Fresh Guarantee policy.
Kate said: “Food waste is a major issue for many households across the UK, wasting both our time and money. However, there are many small changes we can make that can have a big positive impact. By storing our produce differently or adopting a few simple habits, we can significantly reduce food waste, save money, and make sure we actually eat the food we’ve worked hard to pay for.”
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, we are proud to offer a helping hand in ensuring our shoppers have the freshest fruit and veg possible with our Fresh Guarantee. If customers aren’t satisfied with their purchase, they are welcome to return fresh fruit and vegetables for a full refund. We hope shoppers find Kate’s tips helpful and by following her advice, spot a difference in the longevity of their fruit and veg.”
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