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Study Estimates Britain Will Waste 2.2m Kilos Of Cheese This Christmas

Study Estimates Britain Will Waste 2.2m Kilos Of Cheese This Christmas

Un-BRIE-lievable. Even with 66 million people living in Britain, that's Stilton-nes of cheese to be throwing away

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Christmas is a time for excess. It's a time for getting wasted in the middle of the day, and that being totally acceptable.

It's a time for eating your own body weight in fatty food with zero consequences. However, there is a notable downside to all of this gorging. There's a lot of wastage.

According to a new survey, over the festive period Brits will waste around 2.2 million kilograms of cheese. That's a huge amount of cheese that will never get eaten. Imagine the smell.

The research was carried out by the folk at Borough market and they estimate that six out of ten people will chuck out a large portion of their Christmas cheeseboard.

Cheese is getting wasted - this is an horrific travesty.
PA

The number crunchers working for the London food market also found out that the average cheese platter will consist of five types of cheese.

Now, part of this problem is that there is usually a cheese on the board that just doesn't meet the tastes of everyone gathered around the table. A third of people confirmed this belief.

You know that fella is just going to end up on the landfill site. A sad thought.

Oh, and then there is the fact that you've just eaten a whole farmyard worth of meat, a huge amount of sherry trifle, and second helpings of Christmas pudding. Basically, the true meaning of Christmas is stodgy food that really fills you up.

Seems a bit silly that we all then present a cheeseboard and expect ourselves to be able to get through it, doesn't it?

Think how much of this cheese will be wasted...
PA

Of course, it doesn't. Cheese is fantastic. However, we could all be a bit more mindful about the amount of it that gets unceremoniously dumped into - well - the dump, once the Christmas season is over.

The really sad thing is that cheese will last for ages. Some cheeses you can buy could outlast the human race, or a nuclear bomb.

That is - unsurprisingly - an exaggeration, but they will keep well into the new year, for the most part.

The study found that 18% of people simply don't know how long it lasts. 22% said that they were unsure if it would still keep after opening and cutting into the stuff.

Help is at hand, however. You can buy a 'zero waste' cheeseboard. I think we've been getting one of them in my house for about 20 years, given the amount that is usually left.

A less extravagant Christmas cheeseboard.
PA

Dominic Coyte, of Borough Cheese Company, told The Observer: "If you buy cheese that tastes amazing, you're far less likely to waste it."

A fair - if entirely obvious - point.

You can also freeze cheese. It'll keep to go in sauces and the like if you put hard cheese in the freezer. Basically, you can re-use much of the cheese, even if it is not completely perfect.

Coyte continued: "The remainders of a boxed soft cheese can also be baked in the oven with garlic, rosemary and white wine,"

Sounds nice, right?

I'll bet they don't waste much cheese at this festival.

Food journalist Sue Quinn has more tips for keeping your fromage fresh. She said: "Cheese should ideally be eaten as soon as possible after being cut.

"Not practical? Wrap your cheese in wax paper, as this allows it to breathe without drying out too quickly.

"Give your wrapped cheese a lovely home in a sealed container in the fridge, but don't forget to take it out a couple of hours before serving. Cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature; serving it cold is a crime."

There you have it. Remember, a cheese is for life - well, a few months at least - not just for Christmas.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Christmas, UK News, Food And Drink, UK