Every day British people throw away more than a million pots of unopened yoghurt. Why?
Every day British people throw away more than a million pots of unopened yoghurt. Why?
Buying food only to throw it away has long been a mark of our wasteful society. Mostly it's fresh fruit and veg, but a new analysis of the untouched produce which finds its way to landfill reveals a more unlikely casualty of our extravagance - yoghurt.Yoghurt is a popular treat for parents worried about obesity
Buying food only to throw it away has long been a mark of our wasteful society. Mostly it's fresh fruit and veg, but a new analysis of the untouched produce which finds its way to landfill reveals a more unlikely casualty of our extravagance - yoghurt.Yoghurt is a popular treat for parents worried about obesity
For those seeking to follow a healthy diet, the weekly shop seems to have become as much about aspiration as feeding hungry mouths. And any supermarket shopper who wants to buy into this feel-good factor soon finds themselves gazing at the almost interminable shelf space given over to this diary product.
For those seeking to follow a healthy diet, the weekly shop seems to have become as much about aspiration as feeding hungry mouths. And any supermarket shopper who wants to buy into this feel-good factor soon finds themselves gazing at the almost interminable shelf space given over to this dairy product.
In the UK, we get through almost five times more yoghurt per person than we did 30 years ago. In 1978 average yoghurt consumption was just 45ml per week - by 2006 it was 204ml. Consumption has risen 40% in the past 10 years.
In the UK, we get through almost five times more yoghurt per person than we did 30 years ago. In 1978 average yoghurt consumption was just 45ml per week - by 2006 it was 204ml. Consumption has risen 40% in the past 10 years.
Yet as good as we have become at buying it, eating it proves more of a challenge. According to a study by Wrap (Waste and Resources Action Programme) we throw away more than nine million yoghurt and yoghurt drinks - unopened - a day. That's almost a tenth of the 100 million pots sold each week.
Yet as good as we have become at buying it, eating it proves more of a challenge. According to a study by Wrap (Waste and Resources Action Programme) we throw away more than nine million yoghurt and yoghurt drinks - unopened - a day. That's almost a tenth of the 100 million pots sold each week.
"Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy, tasty, natural products and yoghurt ticks all those boxes," says a spokesperson for industry body Dairy UK, which confirms sales are growing year on year. "Manufacturers have worked hard to produce new flavours, lower fat variants and innovative packaging to suit shoppers."
"Consumers are increasingly looking for healthy, tasty, natural products and yoghurt ticks all those boxes," says a spokesperson for industry body Dairy UK, which confirms sales are growing year on year. "Manufacturers have worked hard to produce new flavours, lower fat variants and innovative packaging to suit shoppers."
Research by the Grocer magazine found that the majority of consumers see yoghurts as a healthy alternative to other snacks and more than half of its research panel saw them as a valid nutritional substitute for breakfast or lunch.
Research by the Grocer magazine found that the majority of consumers see yoghurts as a healthy alternative to other snacks and more than half of its research panel saw them as a valid nutritional substitute for breakfast or lunch.
Digestive system
Digestive system
Yoghurts, and particularly biotic drinks like Danone Actimel, Muller Vitality and Flora Pro-Activ, are known in the trade as "functional foods" - in other words, ones people buy for more than just the taste. To extend shelf life you'd need to add more preservatives - precisely the things people want to be removed Nick Hughes, The Grocer
Yoghurts, and particularly biotic drinks like Danone Actimel, Muller Vitality and Flora Pro-Activ, are known in the trade as "functional foods" - in other words, ones people buy for more than just the taste. To extend shelf life you'd need to add more preservatives - precisely the things people want to be removed Nick Hughes, The Grocer
The digestive system, cholesterol level and immune system are all claimed to benefit from these biotic drinks.
The digestive system, cholesterol level and immune system are all claimed to benefit from these biotic drinks.
However, the jury is still out on exactly what the benefits are. A spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation says there is some evidence they could help people who do not have balanced intestinal bacteria.
However, the jury is still out on exactly what the benefits are. A spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation says there is some evidence they could help people who do not have balanced intestinal bacteria.
"However, many studies so far have been carried out in the lab or in animals and further evidence from human trials is required to substantiate the evidence," she says.
"However, many studies so far have been carried out in the lab or in animals and further evidence from human trials is required to substantiate the evidence," she says.
Nevertheless, the "health agenda" is definitely a "major contributor to sales and these products are seen as part of living a healthy lifestyle", says the Grocer's Nick Hughes.
Nevertheless, the "health agenda" is definitely a "major contributor to sales and these products are seen as part of living a healthy lifestyle", says the Grocer's Nick Hughes.
But are we really getting any health benefits at all, if the figures on how much we throw away are correct?
But are we really getting any health benefits at all, if the figures on how much we throw away are correct?
Wrap says its research suggests we bin £169m-worth of uneaten yoghurts and yoghurt drinks each year. That amounts to more than 52,000 tonnes.
Wrap says its research suggests we bin £169m-worth of uneaten yoghurts and yoghurt drinks each year. That amounts to more than 52,000 tonnes.
"Whether it's an image thing too I don't know," says Mr Hughes. "But certainly the people buying these tend to have much more disposable income."
"Whether it's an image thing too I don't know," says Mr Hughes. "But certainly the people buying these tend to have much more disposable income."
The short shelf-life is not helping matters. By far the most common reason for throwing out unopened pots is that they are past their "use by" or "best before" date.
The short shelf-life is not helping matters. By far the most common reason for throwing out unopened pots is that they are past their "use by" or "best before" date.
"People are buying packs of six and eating one every other day, but the shelf life of the whole pack even when they bought it wasn't enough to cover those 12 days," he says.
"People are buying packs of six and eating one every other day, but the shelf life of the whole pack even when they bought it wasn't enough to cover those 12 days," he says.
"The problem is that to extend shelf life you'd need to add more preservatives - precisely the things people want to be removed."
"The problem is that to extend shelf life you'd need to add more preservatives - precisely the things people want to be removed."
Rich and creamy
Rich and creamy
It's not just the health concerns that are pushing up sales. Yoghurt has also been given the "luxury" treatment - turning a prosaic dessert into something much grander. Flavours like dulce de leche or Key Lime pie now appear on shelves.The link with fruit helps yoghurt's healthy image
It's not just the health concerns that are pushing up sales. Yoghurt has also been given the "luxury" treatment - turning a prosaic dessert into something much grander. Flavours like dulce de leche or Key Lime pie now appear on shelves.The link with fruit helps yoghurt's healthy image
Many of those questioned by the Grocer said they knew that the calcium contained within was important, but didn't count yoghurts as part of their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
Many of those questioned by the Grocer said they knew that the calcium contained within was important, but didn't count yoghurts as part of their recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
However, if Muller has its way that could change. It has recently launched a new One A Day range as a reaction to concern among some in the industry that trendy smoothies could be encroaching on traditional yoghurt territory.
However, if Muller has its way that could change. It has recently launched a new One A Day range as a reaction to concern among some in the industry that trendy smoothies could be encroaching on traditional yoghurt territory.
Those in the know think confusion over the respective health benefits of "friendly bacteria" and "real fruit" could be an issue.
Those in the know think confusion over the respective health benefits of "friendly bacteria" and "real fruit" could be an issue.
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