Britons throw away 3.2 billion bananas each year – 115 per household – according to research.
A third of us (32 per cent) claim to have the best intentions to eat healthy fruits, vegetables and salads.
But 54 per cent admit to throwing too much of it away – nine pieces week on average, amounting to £468 a year – according to new data.
Tomatoes and potatoes are the next most frequently binned fresh food item, with Britons chucking away 2.8billion of each, every year (99 per UK household on average) – as well as 2.6billion carrots (94 per household).
Overall, 56 per cent of those surveyed admit that they completely forget about the healthy food they’ve bought at the supermarket.
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) say they only get through half a bag of salad before having to throw it away, with 57 per cent admitting they don’t fully understand exactly where and how to store food to keep it fresh for longer.
Only three in ten (30 per cent) of Brits know to buy bananas green to make them last longer, while just 29 per cent know it’s best to put tomatoes on the counter, not in the fridge.
Food waste expert and author, Kate Hall, has worked with Aldi to share tips to keeping fruit and veg fresh for longer. She says: ‘Food waste is a major issue for many households across the UK, wasting both our time and money.
‘However, there are many small changes we can make that can have a big positive impact.
‘By storing our produce differently or adopting a few simple habits, we can significantly reduce food waste, save money, and make sure we eat the food we’ve worked hard to pay for.’
Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, which commissioned the survey of 2,000 Brits, added: ‘If customers aren’t satisfied with their purchase, they are welcome to return fresh fruit and vegetables for a full refund.’
The research also found that families are struggling the most not to waste food, as 28 percent agree having a family makes it much harder to limit food waste.
Interestingly, 55 percent of the 45-59-year-olds polled believe that their age group are the most concerned about reducing food waste compared to other generations.
