Euro-MPs save crooked carrots and curvy cucumbers (Newham Borough Liberal Democrats)

Newham Borough Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

Euro-MPs save crooked carrots and curvy cucumbers

March 25, 2010 5:00 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford has helped to ensure that crooked carrots and curvy cucumbers can continue to be sold in shops.

Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament spearheaded a successful move to oppose a bid by Spanish MEPs to restore old EU rules that restricted the sale of imperfect-looking fruit and vegetables. While the controversial proposal to reinstate 'community marketing rules' passed the European Parliament's agriculture committee last month, it has now been heavily defeated by a vote of all MEPs.

Welcoming the rejection of a scheme which in the past has led to completely edible fruit and vegetables being thrown away, Sarah Ludford said:

"Supermarkets used to claim they were responding to consumer preference in pressing farmers to supply only good-looking products. But when shoppers are given a choice, they can decide if perfection is more important than price."

"EU rules should be limited to ensuring that food on sale is safe to eat, not whether it is pretty as a picture. MEPs are rightly killing off the image that Europe is obsessed by 'bendy bananas'."

"As we all become more aware of the wastefulness and environmental damage of chucking food away, aspects like taste, value and nutrition become more important. MEPs have done our bit today for common sense."

ENDS