Press release, [embargo] Wednesday 30th Oct 2019
THE FRIGHTENING REALITY OF FOOD WASTE IS REVEALED AS B R I T S B I N 8 M I L L I O N P U M P K I N S AT HALLOWEEN Nearly two thirds (58%) of Brits buy Halloween pumpkins, yet more than half (51%) of these people throw the innards straight in the bin – new research from Knorr reveals.
Forget ghosts, ghouls and zombies – research shows that the scariest part of Halloween is the amount of wasted pumpkin innards that end up in UK bins. A whopping 8 million pumpkins were binned in 2017, equating to enough portions of pumpkin pie to feed the entire nation this Halloween. The new study of 1,000 UK adults, commissioned by stock brand, Knorr, has revealed that last Halloween, nearly two thirds (58%) of the nation bought pumpkins for carving or decorative purposes, but only a mere third (35%) of these people cooked with the leftovers. A previous study of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by environmental waste charity, Hubbub, revealed that more than half (52%) of the nation’s pumpkin buyers are calling for recipes to help them make more of their leftovers. As a result, Knorr is urging families to discover the delicious taste of pumpkin with five ‘frightfully’ tasty Halloween recipes. From Haunted Graveyard Tagine to Ghoulish Goulash, the boo-tiful pumpkin based recipes will keep kids entertained through half term and Halloween. They also provide the perfect way to use up pumpkin innards and feed the family. Philippa Atkinson, Senior Brand Manager at Knorr, said: “The amount of delicious and healthy pumpkins going in the bin each year is a real horror story. This Halloween, once pumpkin carving is complete, we want to inspire people to turn the remaining pumpkin into delicious, rich tasting food using Knorr products. “Our spooky set of recipes includes everything from risottos to stews, tagines, soups and goulash. It’s also a great opportunity to teach children about where their food comes from by involving them in cooking.”