'In the first six months of this year, 28,500 tonnes of food was wasted in Tesco stores'
Tesco found that 68 per cent of its bagged salads, 48 per cent of its bakery goods and 24 per cent of its grapes go to waste.
Much of the food is thrown away by customers - but large amounts have to be ditched because they have been on display too long and some fails to even reach the shelves.
Publishing its food waste figures for the first time, Tesco said that, in the first six months of this year, 28,500 tonnes of food was wasted in Tesco stores and distribution centres.
The supermarket has also given estimates - for the UK food industry as a whole - for the amount of wastage for 25 best-selling products.
Two in five apples and one in five bananas are never eaten, according to the Tesco survey.
‘Families are wasting an estimated £700 a year and we want to help them keep that money in their pockets, rather than throwing it in the bin'
The supermarket chain is introducing measures to reduce waste including ending ‘buy one get one free’ offers on bagged salads.
Tesco has also vowed to scrap confusing ‘display until’ dates on fresh fruit and vegetables and will give customers food storage tips.
Other Tesco initiatives to limit waste include reducing the amount of baked goods on display and telling customers how to use stale bread.
Tesco found that 68 per cent of its bagged salads, 48 per cent of its bakery goods and 24 per cent of its grapes end up in the bin.
Instead of multi-buy promotions on large salads, Tesco will allow consumers to select a second different item at a discount, such as a cucumber or pepper.
Matt Simister, Tesco's commercial director of group food, said there was 'no quick-fix single solution' to tackling food waste.
‘Families are wasting an estimated £700 a year and we want to help them keep that money in their pockets, rather than throwing it in the bin,’ he said.