Up to two-fifths of a food crop is often wasted because it is “ugly”, a report on food waste has shown.
Produce grown in the UK that does not meet retailer(零售商) standards on appearance is often given to animals or thrown out even though it is healthy to eat.
The report from the UK’s global food security program also showed that the average household throws away more than 5kg of food a week, and nearly two-thirds of that waste is avoidable.
The waste costs £ 480 a year per household on average, and £ 680 per family.
Households throw away a fifth of the food they buy, wasting it for reasons ranging from cooking too much to not using it before it goes bad, the study showed.
Consumption is the top area where food is wasted in the UK, the study said.
Farmers respond to consumer demands for high-quality food with standards that can lead to the crop being wasted. Some supermarkets have started marketing “odd shapes and sizes” of fruit and vegetables, though.
Also, more UK consumers are prepared to accept “ugly” fruit and vegetables, amid concerns over sustainability(可持续发展) and food prices, the research said.
In developing countries, much of the loss of food occurs during post-harvesting storage, processing and packaging.
Tackling waste globally is necessary to feed a growing world population sustainably. One in eight people worldwide doesn’t have enough food, the report said.
Around a third of food produced globally is lost or wasted.
Professor Tim Benton, an expert on food security at the University of Leeds, said: “Over 5 million people in the UK live in poverty, where basic food provision is a daily challenge.”
Nearly 400,000 people used food banks last year, according to the Trussell Trust.
“At the same time, 15 million tons of food is wasted annually, with nearly half thrown away within UK households. Reducing the scale(范围) of losses and waste throughout the food system is a crucial step.”
The report highlights priorities(优先事项) for research to help reduce food waste, including improving harvesting and packaging technologies and seasonal weather prediction.
Food waste in developing nations is mainly due to       .

A．fast growing populations

B．huge demand for high-quality foods

C．poor technology in food industries

D．people’s lack of concern about food shortages

We can conclude from the article that       .

A．over half of the food produce in the UK is wasted within households

B．“ugly” fruits and vegetables are becoming more and more popular in the UK

C．avoiding food waste could, by itself, solve food shortage problems around the world

D．developing better farming and packaging technologies is key to reducing food waste

Which of the following statements might Professor Tim Benton agree with?

A．British farmers should keep up with their high growing standards.

B．The number of people living in poverty is growing too fast in Britain.

C．There is still much to do to improve British people’s awareness of food sustainability.

D．British supermarkets should be encouraged to sell food of odd shapes and sizes.

What is suggested in the report?

A．Cutting food prices.

B．Using different approaches to reduce food waste.

C．Improving the appearance of food.

D．Cooking at home more often.

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