Curvy Cucumbers And Wobbly Watermelons Fine By EU

New EU rules will mean oddly shaped fruit can be sold in UK supermarkets from wednesday.

EU laws to ensure fruit and vegetables were sold in standard shapes and sizes were put in place following requests from food buyers to assist them in contracts for large-scale purchases. The laws will change on wednesday and people will be able to buy as many contorted cabbage, wobbly watermelons and peculiar plums as they wish.

Allowing shops and consumers to buy and sell wackily shaped fruit and veg will lead to lower prices and less waste - helping to protect the environment.

North West Euro-MP Chris Davies has welcomed the decision and looks forward to cheaper products for those customers who want to buy this way.

The Liberal Democrat MEP said: “Supermarkets demanded these standards in the first place so they knew exactly what they would be getting if they ordered
1000 cucumbers. But if they are able to sell odd-shaped fruit and vegetables then it is right that the EU should not outlaw this trade.

"It will be interesting to see whether supermarkets now start offering misshapen fruit and vegetables for sale. It will depend on whether customers are
prepared to buy "ugly" products however wholesome they may be."

Not all countries are happy with the decision and some such as France, Italy, Spain and Hungary wanted to prevent unusually shaped produce as they argue it is easier to trade in standard sizes.

The 26 vegetables the rules have been scrapped for are Apricots, artichokes, asparagus, aubergines, avocadoes, beans, brussels sprouts, cauliflowers,
cherries, courgettes, cucumbers, cultivated mushrooms, garlic, hazelnuts in shell, headed cabbage, leeks, melons, onions, peas, plums, ribbed celery,
spinach, walnuts in shell, watermelons and chicory.

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