International Day of Food Loss & Waste - 29th September 2025🍊🍇

Mary_Scope

Today is International Day of Food Loss & Waste. Every year, over a third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted so today is a good reminder that food is just too valuable (and expensive!) to waste!

Here is some things you can do to help prevent food loss and waste and hopefully save a bit of money too…

• Plan meals and make a shopping list
• Buy only what you need
• Choose the “wonky” produce
• Avoid overbuying perishable items
• Store food correctly (fridge, cuboards, freezer)
• Keep fridge below 5°C (41°F)
• Label leftovers with dates
• Use FIFO…….First In, First Out
• Freeze excess food
• Use leftovers in new meals
• Understand date labels (“Best before” vs. “Use by”)
• Compost food scraps
• Make stock from vegetable trimmings

Here is also some more tips and tricks on how to reduce food waste and preventing food loss.

Have you got any good tips and tricks that you use to save money but also prevent food waste?

Mine is if I have lemons or limes that are starting to look a bit tired (but not mouldy!) then I just juice them and pop the juice in the freezer. That way, I always have fresh lemon or lime juice ready to go whenever I need it next!😄

66Mustang

Not so much a tip for consumers but something that would be good was if there was a way to urge retailers: is check - before putting things on offer - that it's not cheaper to buy more of something

I don't mean cheaper "per weight" but cheaper full stop - like a kilo of carrots on offer for £0.39 and a 500g bag is still £0.49… financially it's logical to buy the big bag and throw half away

My granny once or twice got visibly upset when we did her shopping and bought her too much for this very reason - she could afford to waste money not food - but for lots of people they'd not (or just choose not to) have that luxury so the shop is encouraging waste

Mary_Scope

Oooh yes that is a good and logical idea @66Mustang. I imagine there would be lots of money saved and make food shopping easier for a lot of people!