Britons are throwing away £2,675 in rotten food every year because they don’t know it needs to go in the fridge, research reveals
- Research found Britons chuck an estimated £2,675 of food in the bin each year
- Two fifths of food Brits buy is thrown away, with ready meals one worst offenders
- One way to reduce food waste is to organise fridges to make food last longer
- Vegetables should be placed in separate drawers to stop them going soggy
Britons throw out 42 per cent of the food they buy each year – meaning £2,675 worth just goes in the bin, researchers have revealed.
The main cause of food wastage is thought to be because people don’t know how they should be storing their shopping, according to researchers working with Samsung.
Figures revealed the UK is conflicted over where to store common kitchen staples – in the fridge or on the counter – and amid fears of possible panic buying during the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic it is particularly important to ensure food stays fresher for longer.
In a study of 20,000 people across 11 countries Switzerland wasted the most, closely followed by Norway, Italy and France.
Of the food purchased by Brits, 42 per cent is thrown away, equating to £2,675 of food in the bin each year. Pictured: Fruit and vegetables stored correctly in the fridge
In the UK, fruits proved to be a large proportion of waste, as 55 per cent of people stored pears incorrectly, 65 per cent stored apples in the wrong place and 66 per cent didn’t put oranges away properly.
Eggs are another issue, as 37 per cent are left on the counter when they would be preserved for longer in the fridge.
The data also showed 52 per cent of fresh herbs, 46 per cent of ready meals and 45 per cent of sauces/condiments went to waste.
Surprisingly, expensive convenience items such as ready meals and products that are largely designed to kept in the freezer, were being stored in the fridge. It meant items were taking up valuable space but then thrown away.
And ketchup often goes out of date because people are divided over where to store it, with half keeping it out of the fridge. While it can be stored in the cupboard after the initial grocery shop, once opened the experts at Samsung suggest ketchup should be chilled.

New research found people may be getting rid of many foods because they are unaware of how best to store their shopping. Pictured: Fruit and vegetables rot after being stored on the counter

Using drawers that have adjustable settings can stop fresh fruit and vegetables from going soggy, experts revealed
Sauces and condiments blocking visibility in fridges were also found to lead to people making duplicate purchases.
In considering how to avoid waste, almost half think a better food organisation system would help them reduce their food waste and three in five think their food would last longer if they stored it correctly.
The data also found some of the most common reasons for household food waste are forgetting items are in the fridge, not checking expiration dates and not planning meals ahead of shopping.
Nick Bevan, Head of Product Management at Samsung, said: ‘A forgotten vegetable at the bottom of the fridge drawer is a common sight in our homes, yet a few small changes could make this a thing of the past.
‘Simply knowing where food items belong and re-organising our fridges are small things that can help tackle the big problem of food waste in the UK.

Researchers for Samsung developed a series of tips to help people stretch out the life of their popular weekly shopping list items
‘Consider how best to use the space in your fridge and what features you can make the most of to keep your food lasting fresh for longer.
While two thirds of Brits feel guilty for the amount they waste and 51 per cent are more aware of their food waste due to lockdown restrictions, only 56 per cent have a plan in place to help tackle the issue at home.