Food Waste Starts โin the Store, New Research Reveals
OSLO, Norway – A surprising amount of food waste begins not in the kitchen, โbut during the initial shopping trip, accordingโข too recent findings. Norwegians are discarding significantโฃ amounts of unopened and partially used food, frequently enough due to misinterpreting date labels or โpurchasing more than needed. The issue impacts households across demographics, โwith families with children โand individuals living alone exhibiting distinctโข patterns of waste.
The problem is ample. A report by Matvett,the Norwegian food waste organization,indicates that many consumers are prematurely โdiscarding perfectly edible items. Some forget purchases and miss โฃexpiration dates, while others dispose of leftoversโ or partially used ingredients.Families with children tend toโ waste more leftovers, whereas those living alone primarily discard partially used โfood. A 2025 consumer survey detailed โin a Matvett report reveals โฃthat older adults (60+) are more inclined to utilize food nearing spoilage, even removing undesirableโข portions โto salvage the rest, compared to younger ageโค groups.
“many people throwโ away leftovers andโ expired food because they are afraid of getting sick,” explains researcher Sigrid Mรธynerโ Hohle. “More facts on packaging about what a product’s normal appearance is, and how to assess whether it is still safe to eat, would be useful for many.”
The research highlights a need for clearer guidance on food safety and โstorage, possibly reducing household wasteโ and associated โฃeconomic and โขenvironmentalโ costs. The oldest are the best in the class.
