Wonky fruit and veg rules must be re-peeled

Crazy EU rules which dictate the size and shape of fruit and veg sold in our stores must be scrapped when the EU’s management committee votes on the proposals tomorrow, Neil Parish MEP, Conservative chairman of the European Parliament’s agriculture committee, said today.

European Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel wants to cull the existing 36 marketing standards which stipulate size and shape of a range of products, from apricots to watermelons.

The commission is proposing to keep ten standards in place on fruits such as apples, pears and kiwis and vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuces, but shops will still be able to sell this mis-shapen produce as long as it is labelled appropriately.

Mr Parish said:

"Food is food, no matter what it looks like. These crazy rules have to go immediately.

"To stop stores selling perfectly decent food during a food crisis is morally unjustifiable. Credit should be given to the EU agriculture commissioner for pushing through these proposals, and pointing out that this is a matter that should not be decided by the EU.

"Consumers care about the taste and quality of food, not how it looks."