The Student Room Group

Instagram is to blame for food wastage

Poll

Are you more likely to eat for...

... according to a national supermarket study, which looks into the food waste patterns of 5,050 UK consumers. :eating:

The research shows that older consumers, familiar with post-war rationing, don't waste food half as much as those aged 18 to 34, who are 'preoccupied by the visual presentation of food to photograph and share on social media'. :drool:

The research also states that nearly two-fifths of those aged over 65 say they never waste food, compared with just 17% of those under 35, that admit they fail to plan meals, buy too much and then end up throwing it away.

You can read the full story here on The Guardian.

Do you think you're part of the 'Instagram Generation' guilty of wasting food?

Do you prioritise how food looks over than the practicality of preparing it and then reusing ingredients? :doh:
To be fair, it could just be that younger people haven't had the chance to learn how to not be wasteful? Cooking is difficult and it takes a long time to learn how to use up all your ingredients in different ways and make different dishes.

I wouldn't blame instagram :rofl:
I have never taken a photo of food and put it on Instagram. :laugh:
Original post by Paracosm
I have quite literally never taken a photo of food and put it on Instagram. :laugh:


I have, I'm a sucker for it... but then I eat it afterwards!

You could take it the other way and say that 'taking pictures for instagram' can encourage people to take up cooking so they can share it with their friends!
Original post by discobish
The research also states that nearly two-fifths of those aged over 65 say they never waste food,


Literally never? Not one morsel of food?

Nearly two fifths of over 65s are liars.
Original post by Fox Corner
I have, I'm a sucker for it... but then I eat it afterwards!

You could take it the other way and say that 'taking pictures for instagram' can encourage people to take up cooking so they can share it with their friends!


I do follow a few foodie things on Instagram, they're always so nice to look at! I completely agree with you tbh. I think it could definitely encourage people to cook!

My insta is just full of sunsets and stuff cos I'm weird :colondollar:
I never waste food. If I have leftovers I give it to one of my brothers :smile:
I do put pictures of food on Instagram occasionally, but usually it's because it's somewhere where the food is awesome and I wouldn't be wasting it anyway.
It's a nit rich coming from Sainsburys. Thy might wnat to look at their own role in encouraging consumption and food wastage.
Read about this in the Guardian, whose comments are usually half full of millenial hating bile, I'm sure they will enjoy hearing about this.
Reply 10
Original post by Fox Corner
To be fair, it could just be that younger people haven't had the chance to learn how to not be wasteful? Cooking is difficult and it takes a long time to learn how to use up all your ingredients in different ways and make different dishes.

I wouldn't blame instagram :rofl:


I like your thinking Foxy. :colone:

I'm not the best chef and never learnt to properly cook, so no Instagram judgement here!

But I do try my best not to waste food and use up ingredients. Means I end up making the weirdest meals - some of which are surprisingly tasty :u:
Original post by 999tigger
It's a nit rich coming from Sainsburys. Thy might wnat to look at their own role in encouraging consumption and food wastage.


Agreed. Most supermarkets at the moment would rather throw food away than give it away for free. I think I remember reading Tesco has only just starting giving it's fresh food away when it can no longer be sold - I think every supermarket should do this.
Reply 12
Instagram food porn is the ultimate tease.
Reply 13
Original post by Fox Corner
Agreed. Most supermarkets at the moment would rather throw food away than give it away for free. I think I remember reading Tesco has only just starting giving it's fresh food away when it can no longer be sold - I think every supermarket should do this.


I personally don't think food waste is as bad as it's made out to be. People waste far greater resources and if they didn't waste the over produced food, they'd probably waste it on something else.

Not commenting on whether the findings stated in the OP are true or not and I certainly don't waste food, but then I don't waste anything.
Original post by UWS
Instagram food porn is the ultimate tease.


Says you with your naughty snapchats
I hate throwing out food. I felt so guilty when I wasted a third of my dinner last night. Usual serving size. Had been hungry for two hours by the time it was ready then once I sat down to eat my appetite just vanished. :frown:
Supermarkets going on about food wastage. :rofl: