EU Repeals Straight Banana, Curvy Cucumber Laws

Rules set tight standards for produce size, shape, color
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 2, 2008 11:31 AM CST
EU Repeals Straight Banana, Curvy Cucumber Laws
The EU is repealing laws governing the straightness of bananas.   (Shutterstock)

The EU took a U-turn on curved cucumbers and bent bananas and voted to repeal strict laws that ban the sale of imperfect produce, the Washington Post reports. Shops are barred from selling cauliflower less than 4.33 inches in diameter and not-green-enough asparagus until July, when such laws—long mocked by the British tabloids—will be wiped for 26 fruits and vegetables.

Some worry that farmers will face countless new regulations from individual merchants, but “this is better regulated at the level of trade than at the level of Brussels,” an agriculture official said. “In these days of high food prices and general economic difficulties, consumers should be able to choose from the widest range of products possible,” blogged another official.
(More food stories.)

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