The supermarket buy-one, get-one free (bogof) offers could be banned under a Government plan to reduce Britain’s food waste.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is demanding that grocers agree to a tough target on reducing food waste or face legislation that forces them to make savings. They could be told to ditch bogofs in favour of half-price deals and package food in a greater range of sizes to suit the single person’s fridge as well as that of a family.

The series of reports – called Food 2030 – has been welcomed by food specialists.

Defra and the Food Standards Agency are preparing new guidance to reduce confusion about date labels on food.

However, the BRC said it would resist attempts to restrict bogofs. A spokesman said: “Retailers know their customers better and should be allowed to decide what’s the best policy.”

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