In Britain millions of pounds worth of foods are binned for lack of providing correct freezing instructions.
The findings by WRAP, a Government-funded waste charity, are due to be unveiled later this year, and will reveal that supermarkets are ignoring freezing guidance set out by the Food Standards Agency.
The freezing instructions for 50 per cent of frozen products, including meat and bread, are being ignored, despite a campaign launched by WRAP to get supermarkets to issue the correct guidance.
According to the Food Standards Agency, food can be frozen up until its “use by” date and can then be stored in the freezer for up to six months.
But research by WRAP will reveal retailers are confusing customers and leading them to believe they should throw food away unless it’s been frozen on the day of purchase and then consumed within one month.
Consumer campaigners have accused supermarkets of encouraging food waste to boost their profits.
They argued shoppers were being mislead and throwing products like edible meat away out of fear of contracting food poisoning.
A Wrap spokesman told The Telegraph: “Having clear and consistent pack guidance helps to reduce consumer confusion about freezing, which can reduce waste, and our guidance recommends ‘freeze before date mark’.
“In response to WRAP research and guidance retailers started to introduce new levelling and in 2015 this was carried by most ready meals and around half of fresh meat and bakery products. “Wrap is now working to speed up the rate of progress.”
This comes after politicians on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee condemned supermarkets for “pushing food people don’t need” to maximise profits, while they launched an inquiry into food waste.
It was discovered £16 billion worth of food equivalent to £700 per household is wasted every year as a result of consumers buying products and then throwing them away.
Another investigation carried out by consumer campaign Ask the Q found every supermarket apart from Sainsbury’s has issued confusing freezing instructions on packets of meat.
The worst meat waste offenders were found to be Morrison’s and Lidl, who both wrongly stated food must be frozen on the day of purchase and eaten within a month.
Meat is one of the most expensive yet commonly wasted food types.
Facts, myths and how to store food properly in your freezer were revealed earlier this year.
Some examples of facts included 20 per cent of us not knowing we can freeze eggs and 17 per cent do not realise milk can be frozen, but both can be.
*** Article based on the information from TELEGRAPH UK
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