Shameful isn't it?

**VirginVegGrower** · 10-01-2013, 12:14 PM

Also that folks are STILL throwing food away. Are they demented?

**rustylady** · 10-01-2013, 12:17 PM

Indeed it is! One of my pet hates is the huge portions served in pubs and restaurants, waste from these is also quoted in the report - He added that the weight of food equivalent to three double decker buses is thrown away per restaurant per year in the UK - 30% of that is off the consumer's plate.

**BertieFox** · 10-01-2013, 12:22 PM

I'm surprised at how many veggie gardeners 'waste' produce by just allowing things like brassicas just to go up to seed when you can have a feast of shoots just like kale or sprouting broccoli. We have enjoyed our sprouts since November, and will later, frosts permitting, harvest sprout tops. Then the stems will go on producing lots of leafy shoots which we will pick until when we need to clear the plot for spring crops. This can be done with so many things. Salsify and scorzonera flower buds make a really different crop in the spring, Good King Henry shoots can be cut like asparagus (though taste nothing like it) and so on.
Gardeners have learnt how to make the most of the food they grow and could give most people some excellent advice on how to eliminate waste.

**VirginVegGrower** · 10-01-2013, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by rustylady View Post

Indeed it is! One of my pet hates is the huge portions served in pubs and restaurants, waste from these is also quoted in the report - He added that the weight of food equivalent to three double decker buses is thrown away per restaurant per year in the UK - 30% of that is off the consumer's plate.

You and me both. It's gluttony!

**Alison** · 10-01-2013, 12:39 PM

The people I know that waste the most (with the exception of restaurants) are families. Several of my friends are always moaning about their food bill but then say that they can't reduce their amount of waste because they have children and they don't eat the same. Really, since when? When I was a kid we ate the same as our parents (on the whole) but smaller portions. They seem to think that the kids can chose what they eat and cook them something different if they don't like the first option. Seems a waste of time and money to me but I usually get told I just don't understand as I don't have children, totally ignoring the fact I used to be one.

**Thelma Sanders** · 10-01-2013, 12:39 PM

it's the farm crops that are wasted, sometimes just ploughed in, that makes me really cross when I see it happening

Stuff doesn't have to be perfect to taste good - but try telling that to the younger generation *shakes head*

**Aberdeenplotter** · 10-01-2013, 12:41 PM

I don't mind "inferior veg" being sold in the supermarkets. What does really get right up my nose is inferior veg being sold at premium prices. I'm referring specifically to the supermarket which likes to have a bit of everyone else's market selling spuds some of which are only fit for the bucket and posting a notice blaming the weather. If the produce is c**p cut the fri**ng prices.

excuse the rant.

**VirginVegGrower** · 10-01-2013, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by Alison View Post

The people I know that waste the most (with the exception of restaurants) are families. Several of my friends are always moaning about their food bill but then say that they can't reduce their amount of waste because they have children and they don't eat the same. Really, since when? When I was a kid we ate the same as our parents (on the whole) but smaller portions. They seem to think that the kids can chose what they eat and cook them something different if they don't like the first option. Seems a waste of time and money to me but I usually get told I just don't understand as I don't have children, totally ignoring the fact I used to be one.

I used to get really annoyed with other people's kids when I had them over. If it wasn't fish fingers or beef burgers in a box, or nasty sausages in glass jars then they don't want to know. One girl got told that if she didn't want an organic farm produced apricot and lamb burger then she could go hungry. She told her mum, as did I. Her mum said they sound nice, where are they from - phew! Some kids just like being br@ts for the sake of it. Mine got used to the line "eat it up, there are kids starving in Africa!" My kids aren't chubby either but eat really well. Daughter was the only one at a party where they were making pizzas to ask for capers, anchovies and olives. Fortunately her mum knew me well and had bought them in specially, but she will eat what is put in front of her and isn't afraid of variety. Pilchards on toast, stews, sardine and new potato salads, the list is endless that mine will eat and others won't. I blame the parents!

**hamsterhead** · 10-01-2013, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by Nicos View Post

BBC News - Half of all food 'wasted' report claims

Quote...The study also found that up to 30% of vegetables in the UK were not harvested because of their physical appearance.

I blame the supermarkets for only show what is deemed to be perfect fruit and veg. I mean, people who grow the food on kitchen garden plots and allotments don't seem to worry about straight cucumbers, knobbly carrots and beetroots, apples with slight skin blemishes. And why do supermarkets want to wrap everything in plastic??? I'll stop now

**VirginVegGrower** · 10-01-2013, 01:21 PM

Because they can keep their rancid cucumbers longer that way! And I'm talking time wise not size wise. The only way they will get the message is if we stop buying from them and GYO or buy from the market stalls and farm shops. I'll stop now as I can feel myself getting angry with shrink wrapping

**sowitgrowit** · 10-01-2013, 01:29 PM

A small irritant, but I work in an office where people throw their fruit away once it looks slightly less than pristine.

Banana a little "too yellow" or starting to get a little brown spot on it?
IN THE BIN!
*Boom*
In it goes.

It drives me absolutely bonkers. I now tell them to put them in the fridge and I'll eat them when I'm hungry.

//edit: Actually, I take back the "small irritant" bit - waste really is a pet hate, thanks to the way I was brought up. My colleagues think I'm weird of course, for eating their "waste" - but goodness me, it's awful to see just how much is thrown away by some folks.

**veggiechicken** · 10-01-2013, 01:31 PM

Go down the streets when its refuse collection day and see how many houses have their waste food bins out for collection - virtually every house!. I've never used mine - slight lie - I use it for storing dog biscuits!

**Matt94** · 10-01-2013, 01:48 PM

I know where I work (as most of you know- morrisons) we were told at the induction that the company prides itself on low wastage and that it's one of the best supermarkets for low wastage, and from what I've seen this is definitely correct, by 8 at night the reduced sections are full, and by 10 they are empty, I served a women the other night and she was saying that people don't realise that things freeze, I mean most nights the majority of things are reduced to 9p on the reduced section.

But I am noticing that more and more people coming through the till are buying reduced items, and so they should, I do; especially just before I leave work - I think most people are ashamed to say they buy reduced items, but why should they? Buying perfectly good food at a fraction of the cost is surely a good thing!

Anyway rant over

**VirginVegGrower** · 10-01-2013, 02:36 PM

Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post

Go down the streets when its refuse collection day and see how many houses have their waste food bins out for collection - virtually every house!. I've never used mine - slight lie - I use it for storing dog biscuits!

What the hell is a waste food bin?

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