Adults estimate a fifth of what they buy ends up in the bin, despite three-quarters attempting to get more use out of the products in their fridges.

       Other foods likely to be thrown out include fruit and veg, potatoes, eggs, yogurt and cheese.

       The study of 2,000 adults, commissioned by Waitrose, found one in seven forget to check use-by dates, while nearly one in 10 buy more than they need.

       Despite two-thirds planning their food shop for the week in a bid to eliminate leftovers - more than a fifth forget about items they've bought.

       Failing to do a supermarket run, overestimating portion sizes, and buying food for recipes they don't end up cooking are among the reasons why households produce so much food waste.