A SUPERMARKET giant has announced it will sell unwashed potatoes to help cut down on food waste and extend shelf life.

Tesco says its making the move after a successful trial at 120 of its stores.

The chain's lead technical manager, Rob Hooper, said: “Up until about 50 years ago potatoes would generally be sold unwashed and having a natural film of soil around them would help keep them fresher for longer.

“But towards the end of the 1970s, supermarkets moved towards selling more cosmetically perfect produce."