Supermarket's 'ugly' veg campaign

Farmers say odd-shaped fruit and veg taste just as good

Supermarket giant Sainsbury's has said it will challenge a ban on selling "ugly" fruit and vegetables which fail to meet EU rules on size and shape.

The move could reduce prices by up to 40% and cut down on the one-fifth of produce wasted, the retailer said.

The store has written to EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel over what it calls "bonkers" regulations.

However, the EU is already planning to lift the ban on the majority of fruit and vegetables.

'Customer choice'

Sainsbury's decided against selling a Hallowe'en range of fruit and veg for fear shop managers could be prosecuted.

The supermarket giant said it would also write to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn about the issue, and has launched an online poll for customers.

Among the items the supermarket chain said cannot be sold are:

• Cauliflowers less than 11cm (4.3in) in diameter
• "Forked" carrots (with more than one root)
• Onions not at least two thirds covered with skin

Sue Henderson, of Sainsbury's, said: "We have been struggling to fit a square peg in a round hole for too long now when it comes to conforming to the more controversial elements of the EU regulations.

"We're not allowed to use up to 20% of what's produced in this country and in the current credit crunch climate, we cannot continue to waste this much food before it even leaves the farms.

She added: "Buying wonky veg would have saved cash-strapped Britons up to nearly 40% on some items such as carrots.

"It not only saves money, it also reduces waste and supports our British farmers. We strongly believe that now is the right time to challenge the impact these regulations have on our customer's choice."

New rules

Richard Hirst, chairman of the National Farmers' Union's (NFU) horticulture board, said nature "did not always comply with a perfectly-rounded apple and poker-straight carrot".

"People should be given the chance to buy odd-shaped fruit and veg as they taste just as good, he said.

Currently, 36 products are covered by European rules on shapes and size.

But last year, the EU Commission said it wanted to get rid of regulation for 26 of them.

Retailers would still be able to stock "ugly" examples of the remaining 10, which include apples, tomatoes and strawberries, but they could not be sold in the fruit and vegetable section.

Under the proposals, they would have to be labelled "for processing" or "for cooking".

The Commission has said it is aware of the impact of high food prices and is committed to the new rules, which are likely to come into force on 1 July next year.