Overview
- A survey of 2,000 adults reports that 51% have unknowingly purchased items past their sell-by date in supermarkets.
- The study estimates UK households discard about £11.8 billion of food each year, averaging £17.90 per person per month, or roughly £214 annually.
- Uncertainty over safety drives waste, with 66% saying they bin food they are unsure about and younger adults reporting the highest losses, including £309 a year for 18–24s and £409 for 25–34s.
- Public sentiment points to stronger action from retailers, with over 70% wanting supermarkets to do more, 75% calling for clearer labelling, and 35% backing a legal requirement for scannable codes linking to up-to-date guidance.
- GS1 UK says next-generation barcodes can deliver expiry information, storage tips and alerts, and notes Tesco is trialling the technology as enforcement examples such as Asda’s £640,000 July fine keep scrutiny high.