‘Shocking’ amount of fruit and veg wasted, researchers say
The research paper described food loss and waste (FLW) as 'one of the great scourges of our time', when 10% of the world’s population is chronically hungry.
ITV: ‘More than a third of farmed fruit and vegetables never makes it on to shop shelves because it is misshapen or the wrong size, according to research. A university study estimated that over 50 million tonnes of fresh produce grown across Europe is discarded annually, mainly because it does not meet supermarkets’ and consumers’ standards of how it ought to look. In the UK, the figure stands at up to 4.5 million tonnes, the team suggests. The research paper described food loss and waste (FLW) as “one of the great scourges of our time”, when 10% of the world’s population is chronically hungry.
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, who examined how much food is discarded within the European Economic Area (EEA) each year before it reaches the point of sale… The scientists suggest that greater awareness among consumers, and a movement towards shopping sustainably, could encourage the sale of more “ugly” vegetables. They also suggest a greater use of misshapen produce, perhaps in chopped or processed goods, or for sale at a discount to charities’. SOURCE…
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