I found this interesting graphic here [originally from DEFRA]
But sadly the data is rather hard to interpret. It tells me that in the last five years, the price of bread has increased by 30%, and the average person is buying 10% less bread each week [but wasting 32% of it] Furthermore, 60% of people are still eating food after the ‘use-by’ date. What does that mean?
- If I buy a pack of yellow-stickered bread rolls at 8pm in the supermarket which will be out of date at midnight, then does eating them next morning count as ‘after the use-by date’?
- If I freeze them as soon as I get home, and then use them a week later then does that count as ‘after the use-by date’?
- If I bake them into a bread and butter pudding, and put it in the fridge for 24 hours for the next night’s dessert, then does that count as ‘after the use by date’?
And does the 60% of us who risk life and limb with expired food also include any of those wastrels who casually sling sad carrots in the bin?
And I am intrigued by the fact that despite the increase in home baking, there has been absolutely no change in the average percentage of butter purchased, and very little increase in sugar purchasing. What is on the top of all those cupcakes at the School Fete then?
The only line that is clear – and the saddest one – is that food prices are up 12% and incomes in low income households are down 12%.
Find out more about supporting your local Foodbank here
It really is hard with benfits cuts, wage freezes, job losses, and the constant rise of the cost of living. Our food bank here in Oldham has seen a massive increase of people who need to use it, such a valuable resource to families in these times, and sadly I can only see things getting worse
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