Is that chocolate too good to go?

Will you throw out any chocolate eggs? If yes, your Easter egg will be one of nearly 900,000 that goes to waste in Ireland every year.

New research from Too Good To Go, the world's largest marketplace for surplus food, has uncovered some startling statistics around food waste during the seasonal holiday, Easter. A jaw-dropping 899,640 Easter eggs go to waste every year in Ireland, with more than one in four adults (25%) admitting they don’t finish the chocolate they receive. In light of this, Too Good To Go is urging people to rethink their habits around seasonal food.

Food waste during the traditional Easter Sunday roast is also taking a hit. A staggering 85% of Irish adults say they’re left with leftover meat after their Easter Sunday dinner. Assuming an average Easter egg costs €10 per egg (the midpoint of the average range), Too Good To Go calculated that the total cost of binned Easter eggs equate to €9 million annually in Ireland based on the average cost per egg × total eggs discarded.

Key findings from the study demonstrate the extent of food wastage during Easter with:

· 740,000+ hot cross buns

· 720,000+ chocolate bunnies

· 660,000+ roast potatoes being the most common foods going to waste during this time

So, what are the reasons behind the Easter food waste? Nearly 50% of Irish people say they overestimated portion sizes, having expired or spoiled food (35.4%) and having a lack of storage or freezer space (21.2%).

To help curb this waste in ways that benefit both wallets and the planet, Sales Manager at Too Good To Go Machaela O’Leary offers some practical tips:

1. Correct storage: Chocolate can be frozen for later use. Store it in your freezer in an airtight container to enjoy over several months – perfect for melting into hot milk.

2. Get creative: Get creative with leftovers by repurposing them into new recipes like chocolate bark or sweet trail mixes. Hot cross buns can be smothered with custard and baked into a warm bread and butter pudding. Leftover meat? Why not make a delicious sandwich or comforting casserole?

3. Trust your senses: Chocolate tends to have a long shelf life, beyond its best before date.

Too Good To Go is dedicated to empowering consumers and businesses to fight food waste. By using the Too Good To Go app, you can rescue Surprise Bags of surplus food, including chocolate, at a fraction of the price while helping to reduce environmental impact.