French citizens each throw away an average of 20kg of food per year, according to a report in French daily L'Express, prompting ecologists to step up their campaigns to force change.
One idea that has been put forward is to reconsider the use-by dates printed on food.
'Consumers have a great reponsibility,' explained Benoît Hartmann, spokesman for France Nature Environnement (FNE). 'Every year in France, each citizen throws away 7kg of food that is still in its packaging.'
Consumers are tempted by 'superpromotions', he said, while others go for portions that are far too big for individual consumption.
Across the Channel, things look even worse. Compared with France's annual bin of 1.2m tonnes of food, the UK throws away an estimated 8m tonnes of food and drink, of which 5m is still fit for consumption.
According to FNE, half of that which is grown worldwide is thrown away, meaning that half of the pesticides and irrigation used to aid cultivation is, in fact, in vain.
