The survey, conducted by OnePoll in July 2025, found that nearly half of respondents are throwing away up to 25% of their weekly food shop ahead of holidays.
Of these respondents, between 1-10% threw away 38% of their weekly shop.
According to data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the average UK household spends around £97 per week on groceries – meaning £24.25 worth of food is binned per household.
Sophie Trueman, UK & Ireland Country Director at Too Good To Go, commented: “When you’re trying to stretch your summer budget, the last thing you want is to waste money on food you won’t even get to eat.
“These results show how those sneaky ‘hidden extras’ – like throwing away perfectly good food – can really add up.”
When asked about their pre-holiday habits, nearly a third of respondents said that they shopped strategically in the run-up to a trip.
41% cooked or froze food to ensure it doesn’t go to waste, and a further third shared their leftover groceries with neighbours, friends, or family.
However, habits were mixed. One in ten responded that they were more likely to order takeaway in the final days before their holiday than use up food already in their cupboards.
Household food waste has been on the rise since 2020, according to WRAP’s Household Food Management Survey.
Trueman suggested that reducing food waste also has a financial motivation: “With food price inflation still sitting at 4.5%, avoiding unnecessary waste isn’t just good for the environment – it’s essential for keeping holiday costs in check.”
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