Tesco is calling on customers to make the most of leftovers this Christmas to reduce waste and squeeze as much value from their festive food as possible.
With more than half (54%) of people who celebrate Christmas doing another big food shop within five days or less of Christmas Day, Tesco is looking to prevent households from ‘fridge grazing’.
Instead, the UK’s largest retailer is encouraging people to throw a Festive Use Up Day – a dedicated date between 25 and 30 December – to make the most of uneaten food already at home.
During the festive period, an estimated 2 million turkeys, 5 million Christmas puddings, and 74 million mince pies are thrown away while still being edible, causing almost 270,000 tonnes of food waste.
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Additionally, research has shown that the average UK household wastes approximately £800 worth of edible food each year.
According to a new study by Tesco, frequently leftover items include meats or cheeses (in 46% of households who celebrate Christmas), Christmas puddings (42%), sauces (38%) and cooked trimmings such as stuffing and pigs in blankets (35%).
For those looking for creative leftover meal ideas, Tesco has also introduced a new recipe generator as Brits increasingly seek out alternative ways to use leftover Christmas meat and veg.
Findings from the Tesco study revealed that over a third (34%) of respondents say they will throw away chilled Christmas leftovers over concerns around whether it’s fit to eat, while 14% are unsure about what can be safely frozen.
“For many, Christmas is a time where friends and families come together to enjoy delicious food, and we want our customers to be able to get more out of their Christmas food shop, while keeping tasty meals on the table for their loved ones,” said campaigns director at Tesco, Kené Umeasiegbu.
“By using up what they already have before going out to shop, people can spend less and reduce food waste, benefitting both our pockets and the planet.”
The news comes as Tesco is set to re-launch its Kids Eat Free scheme to help families provide children with a balanced meal.
1 Comment. Leave new
Reading your article.Maybe Tesco should consider not selling so many groceries to their customers and what about they’re waste.