To think that all food products (where feasible) should be sold by individual units not multi packs.

[redpipe]

15 million tonnes of food went to waste in the UK in 2010.

AIBU to think that all supermarkets should have fruit, veg and bakery products available for sale individually.
Supersizing and promotions enticing people to buy more than they need or pay more should be scrapped.
Promotions should be about reducing price and not dependent upon buying double.

Well Morrison's sell sloop those things loose.

Should be sells all

I agree good waste is an issue. Supermarkets chick out tons of food.

But fruit and veg is sold separately as well as in packets.

*chuck

I have never seen a market that didn't sell things individually as well as in multi-packs.

And the food waste issue is to do with draconian sell by and use by dates that people follow like mindless drones rather than using their eyes, noses and brains.

It's up to the consumer to know how much of something to buy.
The supermarkets are there to sell products and make profits. If you dont need a massive bag of potatoes then buy less.
I dont throw anything away because I only buy what I know I will use.
If veg look past their best I make a soup or casserole.
I freeze bread then take out what I need.
I never take any notice of alot of use by dates..apart from chicken etc.
If a large meat packet is cheaper than a smaller one I freeze into smaller portions.
There is too much food thrown away I agree

I'd rather see half price offers than BOGOFs. However, that makes no impact on the supermarkets waste, just on the individuals who take home twice as much as they actually want. As for purchasing items individually rather than in packs, I don't have a problem getting fresh fruit and veg like that - with the possible exception of new potatoes, it also reduces packaging.

Really? Everything is sold individually and 2 for 1's don't impact?

Even Tesco admit that the size of their Salad bags couple with their 2 for 1 offers contribute to the terrible figure of 68% being thrown out.

35% is thrown out by consumers by the way

I think the trouble is that smaller sized portions cost more so people buy bigger sizes of things to increase the value they are getting.

Veg, fruit, bakery items etc. can all be bought individually unless you're going to a tiny convenience store. Same with things like crisps, chocolate, cans of drink or whatever.

If you don't want to buy 2 for 1 offers or multipacks, then don't. Nobody i forcing you to.

Why? I'm not in favour of more nannying of people.

Why? expatinscotland

Because we are wrecking the environment with around 60 thousand tonnes of food waste every year!

And in my book anything that helps to reduce this should be welcomed.

The attitude, that I don't waste things and others that do just need to get a grip surprises me.

Marketing tactics like 2 for 1's are tried and tested formulas which work to ensure some/many people buy more than they need. It's works on human nature.

Callmenancy
You are right regarding the bagged salad, although with more and more single households a whole lettuce would take some going through for one person.

My local supermarket is medium sized and I have never seen tomotoes, herbs, oranges, crisps not in multi packs. I have also tried to buy lemons and garlic recently which have only been available in multipacks due to individuals being out of stock...again.
I have taken to opening the packets and buying one at the till.

Good thing the rest of us don't have to live by your book then.

I don't waste food, cannot afford to, but am more concerned with non bio-degradable products being thrown out.

I totally agree, I buy a 12 pack of skinless sausages as the kids have sausage and mash one day in the week. They only keep 3 days once opened. I use 6 of the 12 sausages and end up chucking the rest away

Is all the packaging on wasted food being thrown out bio degradable? If not you have backed up my argument.

I buy bagged salad (washed in water not chemicals) and none goes to waste - DH and I eat as much as we want, and the rest goes to the rabbits.

In fact, that is the answer - with fruit and veg (and bread and biscuits) everyone should keep a couple of rabbits because they'll eat everything you don't!

The only foodstuff I seem to throw away regularly are potatoes - It was better when I got them in a sack from the market and kept them in the shed. Plastic bagged potatoes always seem to go green within a week.

What argument? That you want to police what choice others have in what they buy and what others can sell? Good luck with that. Don't like it, don't buy it. Simples.

Um, Twatty, why don't you just freeze the rest? Use half one week and half the next!

Twatty you could put six in the freezer for next week and thus only need to buy a 12 pk every fortnight?

Xpost

I was going to ask twatty why she didn't freeze the rest but I've been beaten to it!

OP wouldn't individually wrapped items create wastage in other areas though? All the plastic trays, wraps, bags and cardboard. Not everyone will recycle them either. Bins would be overflowing!

Things don't need to be individual people just need to be educated on proper storage and how to use common sense in regards to sell by dates

Better yet, Twatty, buy what you need from the butcher. They'll sell you as few or as many as you want.