The calls from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) charity form part of a series of recommendations that it believes will help cut food waste by at least 20% by 2025.

WRAP said supermarkets should aim to sell more loose produce because it helps customers buy exactly what they need and reduce waste.

However, the charity says its research showed that loose fruit and veg is no longer cheaper than equivalent products that had been pre-packed in plastic bags, cartons or trays.

As part of a crackdown to lower food waste, WRAP says grocery retailers should also provide clearer cook-from-frozen advice on meat, remove advice to ‘freeze on purchase’, and add more information about the lifespan of products like salad and bacon once they have been opened. Such fresh products often last longer than the packaging states, as long as they are kept in the fridge.