Over-65s are the most likely to eat the fruit and vegetables they buy, while only a fifth of 18-24-year-olds eat most of the fresh produce they purchase.
These were the findings of a recent survey by Turkish white goods brand Beko which surveyed 2,000 adults across the UKto assess levels of at-home fresh produce waste.
The survey also gathered data on the UK consumers' vitamin intake, and shared recommendations for the top dietary sources of Vitamins A and C.
According to the study, 69 per cent of over-65s eat most (81-100 per cent) of their shop-bought fruit and veg, with the percentage reducing incrementally as you move down the age brackets. Only20 per centof respondents aged 18-24 said they eat most of the fruit and vegetables they purchase.
Londoners are least likely to eat the fruit and veg they buy, the research revealed, with only 32 per cent saying they eat most of the fresh produce they purchase.
By contrast, consumers in East Anglia were the least wasteful, with 56 per cent consuming most of their shop-bought fruit and veg.
In terms of vitamin intake, only 44 per cent of people believe they get enough Vitamin A, while 67 per cent think they have enough Vitamin C in their diet.
The best fresh produce sources of Vitamin A are carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato and spinach, while guavas, kiwis, bell peppers, strawberries and oranges contain the most Vitamin C.
Intake of Vitamin A was highest in London at 57 per cent, while Wales topped the table for Vitamin C at 79 per cent.
More carrots are consumed each weekby over-65sthan any other age group (87 per cent versus the national average of 78 per cent).
Meanwhile, 62 per cent of peoplein Londoneat oranges at least once a week (versus the national average of 53 per cent).
Age-wise, older consumers appear to be better at getting enough Vitamin C in their diet. Three-quarters of over-65sbelieve they have the highest intake of Vitamin C in their diet, while 55 per cent of those aged18-24 think they get the lowest amount of Vitamin C in their diet.
It’s a different picture for Vitamin A. Some 47 per cent of 35-44-year-oldsbelieve they get the highest intake of Vitamin A in their diet, while 39 per cent of those aged45-54believe they get the lowest intake of Vitamin A.
Beko conducted the survey to accompany its launch of is HarvestFresh fridge freezer, which it says preserves Vitamins A and C in fresh produce for an additional five days.
The fridge’s crisper drawer contains ‘three-colour technology’that simulates thenatural, 24-hour cycleof the sun. This cycle mimicsnatural light conditions, as if the fruit and veg werestill growingin the field or orchard, helping them retain their vitaminsfor longer.
Lights inside the crisper drawer behave in thesame way as sunlight. Each colour of light hasdifferent wavelengthsand is more prominent at different times of the day.
The crisper drawer is bathed inblue light in the morning, becominggreen around noon, when the sun is at its highest, and then becomingred towards dusk. The drawer remainsdark throughout the night.
