Alan Titchmarsh, 75, calls for Britons to DITCH avocados and opt for classic breakfast staple in bid to save planet
Alan Titchmarsh, 75, has advised his fans to ditch the avocado when it comes to rustling up their meals.
The Garden Force legend has instead identified at least three breakfast-time classics for Britons to try amid rising criticism of the fruit’s environmental impact.
Avocados have also been cited as a leading cause of hand injuries among Brits.
Many of the injuries stem from the process of trying to pry the fruit’s stone from its centre, often using a sharp knife.
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In terms of its environmental impact, it’s reported that an avocado has a carbon footprint five times the size of a banana.
They also require approximately double the amount of water needed to grow an apple.
So with so many concerns arising as more and more Brits opt for the brunch-time favourite, Titchmarsh has suggested boycotting the fruit altogether.
“There is a simple solution to avoiding injury when removing the stone from an avocado: don’t eat them,” he began.
The 75-year-old continued to the Times: “Most of those sold in the UK are grown where the rainforest has been felled at an alarming rate to accommodate them.
“They are then shipped, often more than 5,000 miles across the ocean, as breakfast for supposedly environmentally friendly consumers.”
Highlighting his alternatives, Titchmarsh lauded a handful of options for Brits to opt for instead.
“There’s a lot to be said for Cornflakes, Weetabix and Shreddies,” he said.
Titchmarsh isn’t alone in his criticism of the so-called superfood either, with the Sustainable Food Trust also issuing a warning.
According to the Times, the organisation said: “Despite bold claims that avocados are a clean and sustainable superfood, the reality is that avocados have serious environmental consequences.”
Titchmarsh’s dietary advice to fans comes as he prepares to return to screens in an all-new series to offer his tips and tricks in the garden.
Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club will see Titchmarsh team up with his fellow experts to deliver handy advice to budding green-fingered viewers at home.
Titchmarsh will be joined by David Domoney, horticulturist Camilla Bassett-Smith, community gardener Tayshan Hayden-Smith, eco-friendly gardener Anna Greenland and houseplant expert Sarah Gerrard-Jones in the new series.
He teased the new series, which begins on Monday and will air weekdays at 2pm on ITV, with a post on Instagram over the weekend.
Alongside a picture of the show’s key art, Titchmarsh wrote: “Monday afternoons at 2pm on ITV, ITV-X, STV and STV-X. Hope you can join in on the fun!”
Inevitably, his followers soon rushed to the comments to express their delight at seeing him return to screen.