50 Million Brussels Sprouts destined for the bin as Brits admit to overbuying at Christmas
Over 50 million Brussels sprouts will be wasted this Christmas as Brits admit to overbuying festive food, with sprouts topping the list of items thrown away
Over 50 million Brussels sprouts are expected to be discarded this Christmas, research suggests. A poll of 2,000 adults found that 15% plan to bin the often-unpopular vegetable, typically throwing away seven sprouts each after Christmas dinner. However, 67% admit they complain about eating sprouts but buy them anyway.
The survey also revealed that 26% blame their dislike on childhood experiences, while 16% simply don’t like how they look. Nearly six out of ten (56%) respondents confessed to over-purchasing for the Christmas dinner. Among those who frequently overbuy, 56% want to ensure there’s enough for everyone, and 37% fear running out of essentials.
A spokesperson for Too Good To Go, the global marketplace for surplus food that helps users rescue good food from going to waste, which commissioned the research, said: “Every Christmas we see people buying far more food than they actually need, often because no one wants to be caught short over the holidays. But overbuying is one of the biggest drivers of household food waste.
“By planning ahead and being realistic about what you’ll actually use, it’s much easier to make the most of every ingredient and stop perfectly good food from going to waste. By doing so, the hope is people can enjoy a more sustainable Christmas without the unnecessary waste.”
Sprouts topped the list of Christmas foods most likely to be wasted, followed by gravy and broccoli at 10% each.
A third (32%) tend to overestimate how much people will eat, and 20% get tempted by special offers and buy things they may not have planned to.
When it comes to sprouts, 67% reckon people moan about eating them but buy them anyway. And nearly a quarter (23%) admitted they usually buy a Christmas cake every year, even if they don’t think anyone will eat it.
As many as 74% also think they really should buy less food for the next event they host, after over-catering – even though they’re likely to do the same again.
And 13% admitted they’re not confident in their ability to estimate the right amount of food for guests, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
But to help minimise food waste, 53% will work leftovers into sandwiches or wraps and 36% shift into ‘soup mode’, building up hearty soups and stews.
. A spokesperson for Too Good To Go added: “Being creative with leftovers is a fantastic way to use up things that didn’t get eaten on December 25th. “If you’re smart with your shopping habits, plan things ahead of time and make sure you’ve made room in your freezer, you can pretty much carry on eating your Christmas dinner until Easter.
“Not only that, leftovers from Christmas are also a great opportunity to share with friends and family or even those in your community who might be in need.”
TOP 10 FESTIVE FOODS LIKELY TO GET THROWN AWAY:
1. Brussels sprouts
2. Gravy
3. Broccoli
4. Carrots
5. Bread sauce
6. Cranberry sauce
7. Mashed potatoes
8. Stuffing
9. Parsnips
10. Christmas pudding
