Young people waste food more often than older adults

Young people throw away significantly more food at home than people aged 55 and older. Vegetables, fruit, dairy products, meat, and eggs are discarded most often. That is according to research by Too Good To Go. The findings also show that older adults are more likely to think about where their food comes from. They are also more aware of the resources lost when food goes to waste.

Differences most noticeable for fresh products

The gap is widest when it comes to vegetables. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, 25% throw away vegetables every week. Among people aged 55 and older, that figure is 8%. The percentages are also clearly higher among younger consumers for fruit, dairy products, meat, and eggs. Overall, 48% of 18- to 34-year-olds waste an above-average amount of food. Among the oldest age group, that figure is 14%.

According to Too Good To Go, reducing food waste often starts with small everyday habits. Checking what is already at home, using leftovers in the next meal, and judging products by their appearance, smell, and taste before throwing them away can all help.

"Many people genuinely want to waste less food, but during a busy week, groceries and leftovers quickly slip off the radar," says Gijs van Schoot, Country Director Netherlands and Belgium at Too Good To Go. "Small steps, such as checking your refrigerator first or freezing bread before it's too late, can already make a big difference."

More attention to food origins

The research shows that people aged 55 and older think about the origin of their food more often than younger consumers. They are more likely to check the country of origin for vegetables, dairy products, and eggs. They also place greater value on locally produced food. In addition, they are more aware of the resources lost when food is thrown away.

According to the Voedingscentrum, people in the Netherlands wasted an average of 25.5 kilograms of solid food per person at home in 2025. That equals roughly one meal per week and a value of approximately €100 per person each year.

According to the research, younger consumers are the most willing to change their behavior. Among 18- to 34-year-olds, 78% believe that greater knowledge about food origins and production leads to less food waste. Among people aged 55 and older, that figure is 70%. According to Toine Timmermans, director of Stichting Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling, the challenge is to turn that awareness into everyday behavior, making the choice to waste less food the easiest choice.

Toogoodtogo.com