Resource management – CCEAFood waste

We must manage time, energy and money when choosing, preparing and shopping for food.

Part ofHome Economics: Food and Nutrition (CCEA)Shopping, storage and preparation

Food waste

Food waste in a bin

Seven to ten million tonnes of food are wasted each year in the UK.

A significant amount of the food we waste could have been eaten.

There are a number of reasons for food waste, for example:

  • best before dates are ignored or misunderstood
  • food has been stored incorrectly
  • leftover food is often thrown in the bin

Did you know?

The Love Food Hate Waste website estimates that there is a large financial cost to consumers when food is wasted.

The cost of food waste can be as much as £700 a year for an average family.

4.4 million tonnes of the food wasted each year in the UK could have been eaten.