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EU abolishes regulations on fruit and vegetables
Sanity restored?…
In an ever increasing mad world it would seem that common sense has been restored by European Union leaders with their rethink on draconian laws regarding the selling of less than perfect fruit and vegetables. About time!
The amount of food that is wasted because growers cannot sell lower grade items is both staggering and deeply concerning. It is estimated that some twenty per cent of farm produce is rejected because it doesn’t fall in line with strict EU guidelines. I don’t understand this, the food in question might be slightly deformed but the taste remains the same so why not sell it at a lower price which not only benefits the consumer but also the famer who would otherwise be throwing it away.
The measuring of length and width of fruit and vegetables is madness, let the consumer decide. If the public are happy to buy a ‘wonky’ carrot at a cheaper price then let them do it. I’ve grown my own fod for a number of years and the number one criteria has always been the taste, not the appearence. Some of the rules the EU have specified in the past beggar belief but now they are about to make a U-turn. Not completely it has to be said, bananas still have to be 14cm long and pears will lose their classification if any deffect on their skin measures more than a centimetre.
Whatever, this is good news for the cash strapped consumer who should begin to see a fall in food bills as a result of this, it’s about time we made a clear break from processed, perfectly sized veetables and delved into a world of peeling irregular sized food.
Bring it on!
Sanity wins out - on a rare occasion. From an ocean away this makes me extraordinarily happy. Bureaucrats at every level need to step outside their pathetic little cubicles and experience the daily lives of those they wish to govern. Let the market dictate standards - if no one wants an L shaped cuke - so be it - I’ll gladly pay full price if it tastes good. If I had my choice, anyone seeking employment by government should have to spend a “year in the field” - maybe to see what it’s like to work dawn to dusk without having the option of a few drinks on the company tab at Harvey Nicks at the end of the day is like.
Arghh - I could go on for hours about this - maybe it’s just the because I have had to make 50 different marinades (all asian) for friggin flank steak the last 3 days. I just feel that I want to smack people that have no idea about what they are talking about, yet feel their opinion should be heard.
sorry - frustrating day again, but I think my sentiment will hold true regardless of my mood.
November 13, 2008 @ 6:06 am
Dave,
Glad to hear your view on this, I often wonder how the Americans would view the madness that is the Brussels way of governing Europe. The money wasted by these idiots is often quite staggering.
That’s a lot of marinades mate-care to share some? With you on that, I had a day to forget yesterday. It can only get better!
Miles
November 13, 2008 @ 7:24 am
Miles,
The Nean household breathed a sigh of relief on hearing of the above. We have all said it before: let the market decide.
Many holiday makers to Tenerife may agree with us that their bananas have a wonderful flavour. They are much smaller than ours and, as you mention, are too small to export to the EU. They have to grow extra large ones and cover them with blue polythene!
We should all lobby our MEP’s to make decisions that reflect our wishes and that includes good tasting, smaller bananas!
I wonder how many of us actually know our MEP?
Elsie
November 13, 2008 @ 2:21 pm
Elsie,
A great comment. Who indeed does know their MEP-I don’t, I admit it but then I wonder if they care?
Miles
November 13, 2008 @ 7:59 pm
Elsie,
I can’t remember anyone (save for the odd joker
) who has insisted on a large banana so why did we have to have them? Something tells me it’ll have been a man who ultimately set this standard…. no woman would be that foolish 
Cid
November 13, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Cid,
Behave yourself, that’s an order
Remember which channel you’re tuned into, we don’t have any old smut over here I’ll have you know!
Miles
November 13, 2008 @ 10:38 pm