// The Waste & Resources Action Programme charity urges grocers to remove “best before” dates on produce
// The removal could cut food waste by at least 20% by 2025
// 7.1 million tonnes of food is being thrown away each year across the UK
Food waste increase has prompted a charity to urge grocers to stop charging more for loose fruit and vegetables and to scrap “best before” dates.
The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) charity said the initiatives will help cut food waste by at least 20 per cent by 2025.
Supermarkets have been urged to sell more loose produce because it helps customers buy exactly what they need and reduce waste.
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WRAP added that grocers should provide clearer cook-from-frozen advice on meat and remove advice to “freeze on purchase”.
One-fifth of all food brought into homes across the UK is wasted, equivalent to 7.1 million tonnes being thrown away each year, costing the average family around £810 per year, according to WRAP.
The charity called on grocers to prioritise ensuring “customers have more time to eat what they buy”.
“Offering fresh produce loose gives customers the opportunity to purchase the correct amount for their needs,” WRAP said.
“Where fresh produce is packaged, the absence of a ‘best before’ date – on some items – can also help to reduce waste by encouraging people to use their judgement more.”
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