ADJUSTING the temperature of your fridge could keep food fresh for up to three days longer – and Somerset residents are being given a hand to make it happen.

To mark Food Waste Action Week, Somerset Council and SUEZ are helping members of Local Pantries in the county go the extra mile to reduce food waste.

The council and collections contractor SUEZ recycling and recovery are providing a fridge thermometer to every food pantry member, helping families to keep their food at a cool 0C to 5C.

The nationwide Love Food Hate Waste campaign has also shared some simple tips that can help everyone make the most of their food.

Tips for cutting food waste include:
Create a weekly meal plan
Check your portions to avoid uneaten leftovers
Don’t put hot food straight in the fridge, let it cool first so it doesn’t increase the temperature
Keep fruit and vegetables in the fridge – it makes them last longer
Create an ‘eat me first’ space in the fridge – so you can keep tabs on food that needs using up

Cllr Dixie Darch, executive lead member for climate and environment at the council, said: “Simple steps can help to prevent food waste, and importantly save money.

“We want to help families avoid unnecessary food waste, a simple way to start is by checking your fridge is at the correct temperature.

“When stored correctly, fresh food could last up to three days longer, providing opportunity to feed the family – and not the bin.”

Households in Somerset can recycle their food at the kerbside, with their weekly recycling collection.

Last year, 23,000 tonnes of food waste was recycled – but the waste in the general rubbish bins were filled with 21% food waste.

Food waste in Somerset is recycled in the county, via anaerobic digestion – it’s turned into fertiliser for farms and electricity that goes into the national grid.

Nine food pantries in Somerset are up and running, diverting surplus food from shops and allotments, saving food which would have otherwise been thrown out.

Lily Morton, of SUEZ recycling and recovery, said: “We are really pleased to be able to partner with the Somerset Local Pantry network.

“We hope that we can encourage their members to think about reducing food waste at home. This not only helps the environment but will also help people save money by stopping still good food going in the bin.

“Producing food and food products requires a huge amount of resources. This is why it’s particularly important to reduce food waste and where you can’t reduce, make use of the kerbside food waste recycling.”