A survey commissioned by Bernard Matthews has identified food waste hotspots across the UK where parents estimate they are losing significant amounts of money annually. Families in Glasgow, Liverpool, and Nottingham are particularly likely to waste high amounts on food that goes uneaten, according to the research.
Survey Findings on Food Waste
The survey of more than 2,000 UK parents of children aged four to 12 found that 60% said their children refuse to eat a meal they are served at least once a week. The average amount that parents estimated their family wasted annually on uneaten food was £283. Families in Glasgow estimated they waste £369 on average, the highest among all cities surveyed. Liverpool followed with an estimated £316 wasted annually, while Nottingham families reported an average annual food waste bill of £315.
Other Cities with High Food Waste
In London and Belfast, families were also found to be wasting more than £300 per year on average on uneaten food, according to the research carried out by Censuswide in May. At the other end of the spectrum, families in Bristol estimated they were wasting £198 per year typically, the lowest amount among the cities surveyed.
Parents' Views on Playing with Food
Half (50%) of parents surveyed felt that encouraging their child to play with food would help to reduce the pressure. Laurence Hinton, head of marketing at Bernard Matthews, said: “Parents agree that playing with your food can take some of the pressure out of mealtimes, encouraging children to engage positively with food and ultimately making family meals more enjoyable and less wasteful.”
Average Annual Food Waste Estimates by City
- Glasgow: £369
- Liverpool: £316
- Nottingham: £315
- London: £312
- Belfast: £306
- Leeds: £299
- Edinburgh: £291
- Newcastle: £286
- Cardiff: £285
- Birmingham: £277
- Manchester: £252
- Sheffield: £251
- Plymouth: £250
- Brighton: £243
- Southampton: £240
- Norwich: £235
- Bristol: £198
