News Published on 29 Jun, 2009
New regulations favour ‘wonky’ fruit and veg
Filed by Bill Bruce
When new EU marketing regulations come into force on 1 July, consumers will be able to see fruit and vegetables as nature intended. Strawberries or apples for making jams and pies at home (which, in the past, may not have been available because of cosmetic imperfections) should now be easier to spot on shop shelves.
© strph/Flickr
The new regulations clarify the rules relating to ‘wonky’ fruit and vegetables, and is good news for anyone keen on curvy cucumbers or out-of-proportion plums.
Until now, there has often been a misconception that anything that doesn’t look ‘perfect’ can’t be sold by retailers. But the new rules simplify how retailers can market produce without misleading consumers, whether it’s polished, knobbly or bent.
UK Food and Farming minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, said: “The new marketing regulations will help supermarkets and greengrocers label their fruit and vegetables correctly, and will provide more choice for people who aren’t bothered by what shape their five-a-day comes in. It also means that producers and suppliers won’t be stuck with as many leftovers, so there’ll be less food waste.”
26 types of fruit and vegetables that were covered by Specific Marketing Standards will now instead be covered by the General Marketing Standard (GMS), which is below the old ‘Class 2’ standard. Retailers will be able to market these fruits and vegetables without giving the impression that the produce is imperfect.
The 26 fruit and vegetables are:
- apricots
- artichokes
- asparagus
- aubergines (eggplant)
- avocadoes
- beans
- Brussels sprouts
- carrots
- cauliflowers
- cherries
- courgettes (zucchini)
- cucumbers
- cultivated mushrooms
- garlic
- hazelnuts in shell
- headed cabbage
- leeks
- melons
- onions
- peas
- plums
- ribbed celery
- spinach
- walnuts in shell
- water melons
- chicory.
As long as fruit and vegetables are clean, free from pests or diseases, not rotten, and labelled with the country of origin, retailers will be able to market them as they see fit.
10 other types of produce remain subject to Specific Marketing Standards (which are stricter), but there’s an allowance for the fruit and vegetables covered to be marketed for processing (such as into jams or pies) if they fall below the SMS.