Embrace wonky veg, MPs tell supermarkets
CONSUMER AFFAIRS EDITOR WONKY fruit and vegetables should be considered normal, MPs have said, as they urge supermarkets to relax standards requiring produce to be “perfectly” shaped.
The recommendation, made in a food waste report published today by the influential environment food and rural affairs committee, is part of a new plan to stop millions of tonnes of produce being wasted each year.
Despite efforts by campaigners to encourage wonky vegetables, numerous studies have shown that shoppers are more likely to select perfect-looking produce as they decide what to buy in less than a second.
Neil Parrish, chairman of the committee, said: “Shoppers have been brainwashed to expect that everything has to be perfect.
“Retailers have demanded hugely high quality from farmers, which has led to consumers thinking produce grows straight in the real world – but it does not. There is a growing argument now that we would eat more or just as much if it wasn’t perfect. People would like to see a bit more misshapen veg, which proves they are a real, living vegetable.” The report also calls on the Government to establish a national food waste reduction target to drive efforts to reduce food waste. To achieve this MPs want all supermarkets publicly to report the amount of food they throw in the bin. At present only Tesco does this.