Despite families trying to cut costs and tighten purse strings, LG Electronics has found that over half of UK households waste at least 10% of all the food they buy and a fifth waste over a 25%.

Food wastage has been a topical issue in the UK in recent years as consumers become ever more conscious of the environment and with the economic situation meaning that shoppers are tightening their belts and looking for new ways to save money. In fact, over two thirds of people (71%) say that they do think about the food they may waste when doing the weekly shop and try to reduce this by buying only what is needed.

Nevertheless, with stats from LG’s latest Refrigeration Report showing that £5 billion worth of food is wasted each year, it seems that people aren’t sure how to store their food to keep it fresh or what to do with leftovers.

People in Northern Ireland are the worst offenders, with a third saying that they waste more than a quarter of all food bought. While Wales wastes less food than any other region, with one in ten wasting more than a quarter of all food bought.*

Celebrity chef, Simon Rimmer, comments: “Food wastage is a huge issue in the UK but it’s really very simple to avoid. Knowing things like where you place your food in the fridge, the cool levels within the fridge and which foods should be refrigerated can really make a difference. There are plenty of new technologies, especially in refrigeration, that can really help to combat any wastage problems.”

LG Home Appliance Marketing Communications Manager, Dawn Stockell adds: “In 2011, LG’s Refrigeration range includes products with leading technologies which prolong food freshness and minimise wastage. Features like our Moist Balance Crisper maintain the moisture balance in one section of the fridge to ensure that fruit and vegetables don’t go soggy and stay fresh. Our refrigerators also have Fresh O Zone areas which maintain an area of the fridge at zero degrees, meaning meat and fish will be kept at a prime temperature ready for cooking.”

*Food Wastage in the UK by Region:

REGION
1 Northern Ireland (30.75%)
2 West Midlands (26.06%)
3 London (22.47%)
4 East Midlands (21.43%)
5 North West (21.08%)
6 East Anglia (20.4%)
7 Scotland (20.01%)
8 South East (18%)
9 Yorkshire and Humber (15.85%)
10 South West (12.5%)
11 North East (12.36%)
12 Wales (11.63%)

(Regions ranked with 1 being the most and 12 being the least wasteful. Figures show percentage of people who waste more than a quarter of all food bought)

With the peak BBQ season and warmer temperatures upon us, visit www.LG.com to find out more information about how LG’s home appliance products can help you to minimise food wastage.

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