Theresa May has revealed to top officials that she never throws away a mouldy jar of jam, but instead scrapes the top off and eats what is underneath.

The prime minister’s admission came during cabinet discussions on how to reduce food waste.

Ms May is said to enjoy cooking, and has a particular penchant for jam, even giving a jar to Melania Trump as part of a hamper in 2017.

The cabinet meeting was at the centre of controversy on Tuesday as some government insiders complained afterwards that Brexit had not featured heavily enough in discussions.

The jam claim was first reported in the Daily Mail. The newspaper said it had been told by a Whitehall source that the prime minister argued food should not be thrown away just because it is past its best before date.

The prime minister instead thought shoppers should use “common sense” to check if it is edible before binning it.

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Her advice runs in parallel to that of health experts, who suggest removing mould can make remaining food safe to eat.

In 2017 Downing Street said the prime minister presented a hamper of sweet treats from Chequers, her official country retreat in Buckinghamshire, to the new first lady Melania Trump.

It included Chequers apple juice, damson jam and marmalade, as well as Bakewell tarts and cranberry and white chocolate “shorties”.

Asked about the prime minister’s tip, Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesperson said the Labour leader, who has previously talked about making jam from the fruit in his allotment, never lets his preserves go mouldy.

He said: “Jeremy’s love of both making and consuming jam is well known.