New study shows that food waste is pervasive [Video]

A new study by Western University of more than 1,200 London households shows that the average family wastes six portions of edible food per week – more if you’re feeding kids.

Ivey professor Paul van der Werf and Western’s Human Environments Analysis Laboratory (HEAL) hoped to help consumers keep more money in their wallets by cutting down on the amount of things that end up in the trash.

Especially critical in an environment of growing food insecurity and skyrocketing costs – with some data suggesting that as many as 6.8 million Canadians lack safe and nutritious food.

According to van der Werf, the most frequently wasted items were fruit and vegetables, followed by bread, baked and dry goods. The study indicated that proteins like meat and fish are most prone to disposal due to “best before” dates.

Van der Werf pointed to the need to educate consumers, “there is a …