More About Food Miles

Some Fun facts about our Food Miles Calculator

Total distance calculated by the tool*: 434,637,565 miles, that is approximately 17469 times around the earth or 565.34 times to the moon and back or even 100% of the way to the sun(done) 89.80% of the way to Jupiter!

The average distance calculated is: 3935 miles

Food Miles Calculator Tag Cloud

This shows the most "tracked" items using the food miles calculator!

acai almonds ananas anchor butter appel appels apple apple juice apples apricot apricots aromatic basmati rice asparagus asparagus tips aubergine aubergines avacado avacados avocado avocados baby aubergines baby carrots baby corn baby leeks baby new potatoes baby sweet corn baby sweetcorn babycorn bacon baguette baked beans baking powder balsamic vinegar bamboo shoots banana bananas bananna banannas banans banna bannana bannanas bannans bannas barbeque sauce basil basmati rice bean sprouts beans beef beef burgers beef mince beef steak beer beetroot biscuit biscuits black grapes black olives black pepper blackberries blackberry blue berries blueberries bok choi bomb bombs bottled water braeburn braeburn apple braeburn apples bramley apples brazil nuts bread bread sticks breadsticks breakfast brie brie cheese broad beans broccili broccoli broccolli brocoli brocolli brown rice brown sugar brussel sprouts bun burger burgers butter butternut squash cabbage cabbages cacao cake candy cane sugar canned tuna cantaloupe cape gooseberry carots carrot carrots carrots and peas cashew nuts cashews caster sugar cauliflower caviar celeriac celery celery hearts cereal cheddar cheese cheerios cheese cherries cherry cherry tomatoes cherry tomatos cherrys chese chesse chestnuts chick peas chicken chicken breast chicken curry chicken nuggets chicken portions chicken wings chickin chickpeas chiken chili chilies chilli chilli powder chilli sauce chillie chillies chillis chips chives chocalate choclate chocolat chocolate chocolate bar chocolate spread chocolates chopped tomatoes chorizo cinnamon clementine clementines coca beans coca cola cocaine coco coco beans coco pops cocoa cocoa bean cocoa beans cocoa butter cocoa powder coconut coconut milk coconuts cod cofee coffe coffee coffee beans coffie coke cola condoms cookies coriander corn corn beef corn flour corn on a cob corn on the cob corned beef cornflakes corriander cotton courgette courgettes cous cous couscous cox apples crackers cranberries cream cream cheese crisps croissants cucumber cumin currants curry curry paste curry powder custard dairy milk dark chocolate dates dill dog doritos dragon fruit dragonfruit dried apricots dried fruit duck edam cheese egg eggplant eggs england extra fine beans extra virgin olive oil fajitas feta feta cheese fig figs fine beans fine trimmed beans fish flour flower flowers food food miles free range eggs french beans french fries fries frogs legs frubes fruit fruit cocktail fruits gala apples gammon garlic garlic bread gherkins ginger golden caster sugar golden syrup granny smith apples grape grape fruit grapefruit grapes graps gravy green beans green chilli green grapes green pepper green tea guava guns h p sauce haddock haggis ham hamburger herbs honey honeydew melon hot chocolate hot dogs hp sauce ice ice cream ice-cream iceberg iceberg lettuce iceburg lettuce instant noodles jalapenos jam jeans jelly juice juicy sweetcorn jumbo spring onions k kangaroo ketchup kidney beans king prawns kiwi kiwi fruit kiwifruit lamb lamb chops lard lasagna lasagne lazac leek leeks leg of lamb lemon lemon grass lemon juice lemonade lemongrass lemons lentils lettuce lime limes lobster long grain rice lychee lychees macaroni mackeral mackerel maize manchego cheese mandarin mandarins mange tout mangetout mango mangoes mangos maple syrup margarine mayonaise mayonnaise mcdonalds meat meatballs melon melons miles milk milk chocolate mince mince meat minced beef mixed chillies mixed herbs mixed peppers mozarella mozzarella mozzarella cheese mozzerella mushroom mushrooms mustard naan bread nachos nectarine nectarines new potatoes noodle noodles nutella nutmeg nuts oats oil okra olive oil olives onion onions orange orange juice oranges oregano oxtail soup oyster sauce paella pak choi pancakes papaya pappadums paprika parma ham parmesan cheese parsley parsnip parsnips passion fruit pasta pasta sauce paster patatoes patatos pate pavlova pea peach peach slices peaches peaches in a can peanut butter peanuts pear pear quarters in fruit juice pears peas penne penne pasta peper peperami pepers pepper pepperoni peppers pesto physalis pie pilchards pinaple pinapple pinapples pine pineapple pineapples pink lady apples pizza plain flour plane plantain plum plum tomatoes plums po pomegranate pomegranates poo popcorn pork pork chops potato potato chips potatoe potatoes potatos prawn prawns pringles pumpkin seeds quorn radish radishes raisins raisons rasberries rashen packs raspberries red apples red chilli red chillies red grapes red onion red onions red pepper red peppers red seedless grapes red wine rhubarb ribs rice rice pudding roast beef roast lamb rocket rosemary round beans rum runner beans saffron salad salad onions salad peppers salami salmon salsa salt samon sardines satsuma satsumas sauce sausage sausages sea salt seaweed sesame seeds shallots sharon fruit sheep shrimp snails soft cheese soup soy beans soy sauce soya soya sauce spagetti spaghetti spain sparkling water spices spinach spinach, rocket and watercress spinich spring onion spring onions sprouts squash squid srawberries star fruit stawberries steak strawberries strawberry strawberry jam strawberrys stringless beans strong white flour sugar sugar cane sugar snap peas sugarsnap peas suger sultanas sunflower sunflower oil superfino arborio rice sushi swede sweet corn sweet potato sweet potatoe sweet potatoes sweetcorn sweetcorn cobs sweets tabasco tagliatelle tamatoes tangerines tea tea bags tea leaves teabags tiger prawns tin tomatoes tinned tomatoes tinned tuna toast toblerone tomartoes tomato tomato ketchup tomato paste tomato puree tomato sauce tomato soup tomatoe tomatoes tomatos tomtoes tortilla tortillas trimmed fine beans tropicana tuna tuna chunks tuna fish turkey turkish delight turmeric turnips ugly fruit vanilla vanilla extract vanilla ice cream vegemite vegetable vegetable oil vegetables veggie mite vinegar vodka walnuts water water chestnuts water melon watercress watermelon weetabix weop0ns trancesport wheat white grape juice white grapes white wine wholegrain wheat wine yam yams yeast yellow pepper yogart yoghurt yogurt your mum

Top Countries

Country From	# of checks
Spain	7975
Italy	7451
United Kingdom	6385
United States	5857
New Zealand	4807
France	4451
China	4388
Brazil	4362
Afghanistan	4251
India	4033

Country To	# of checks
United Kingdom	99485
United States	3042
Australia	2043
Germany	1923
Ireland	1424
China	1243
New Zealand	990
Canada	946
United Arab Emirates	816
Belgium	674

Food Mile Considerations

Now that you have used our Food Miles Calculator you have a rough idea of how far the food has come to get to you.

This isn't however the whole story, there are many other factors to consider when you work out the environmental impact of your food.

Internal Travel

Remember, because our tool can only track items from capital to capital it doesn't give the whole story.

Country Of Origin

In the country of origin there a lot of things to consider, things like:

What products or treatments have been used to treat or grow the item? This would include any feeds etc for livestock and fertilisers for fruits and vegetables
Has the item been picked and shipped around prior to leaving the country?
How has the item been packaged and packed?

This has been highlighted in a fairly recent study by the Lincoln University in New Zealand where they proved that the overall environmental impact of NZ lamb was less than that of Welsh - including importing it to the UK. Report (PDF)

Destination Country

Food miles can be added to a product when it is in the final destination country. These include any internal movement of stock between distribution centres and supermarkets, travel to and from the point of purchase and even disposal of waste from the product!

Grow Your Own

An obvious answer to the food miles debate is of course to grow your own and keep the food mileage down to about 50ft! This isn't obviously the answer for all things as we don't all have a few acres spare to graze sheep etc.

Growing your own does have the added advantage of allowing you to track exactly what chemicals if any are used. Good for the planet and good for you.

Finally

The point here is that food miles are a very complicated thing, so the tool we have put together for you is only one part of the story. It can give a good indication of the miles your food has travelled to reach you and the carbon produced as a result.

In general, local food - that is locally produced and sold - is best, so buying this would normally be the safer option!