Why £428m of BBQ food ends up in the bin

HOUSEHOLDERS are set to throw away nearly half a billion pounds worth of barbecue food this month as they entertain a growing army of fussy party guests.

Gone are the days when a burger or hot dog would suffice. Now an array of niche dietary requirements and health preferences mean hosts have to stock up on a wide selection of barbecue foodstuffs.

According to Sainsbury’s this means £428 million of barbecue food will end up in the bin after an estimated 12 million barbecues take place this month.

Research shows hosts, eager to please, over-cater to impress friends and family, with more than half (49.2 per cent) putting on a larger than necessary spread.

Around one in five hosts (22 per cent) complained that “fussy eaters” accounted for much of their leftovers.