Half of Brits embrace ‘five-second rule’ in effort to avoid food waste

Half of Brits embrace ‘five-second rule’ in effort to avoid food waste

Brits are willing to consume food that has fallen on the floor for up to six seconds, research has found.

Student Rebecca Ehlin Nordh is involved in an Uppsala project with the aim of reducing food waste. In her own everyday life, she always tries to throw away as little food as possible. “It’s important to work it into your everyday behavior,” she says.

Top foods Brits are fine to eat because of the 'five-second rule'

It would seem the trusty biscuit is sacred to most Brits - it's a different matter for a fallen baked bean

Food waste recycling – from the ground, to the ground

That’s a wrap on Food Waste Action Week 2025, which highlighted the importance of reducing food waste by encouraging consumers to buy their fresh produce loose and to only buy what they need. This not only helps the planet, but can save you money too! However, if you do end up with food waste make sure you are recycling correctly to make the most of this potential resource.

The legal implications of new food waste reforms

Melissa Haskell, partner in the regulatory and licensing teams at Knights, explores the practical changes businesses must adopt in light of Simpler Recycling reforms and the anticipated implications of non-compliance.