Crooked carrots saved says SW MEP
March 26, 2010 9:22 AM
Originally published by Sir Graham Watson MEP
Originally published by Sir Graham Watson MEP
Euro-MPs have ensured that crooked carrots and curvy cucumbers can be sold in shops.
They have voted down a bid by Spanish MEPs to restore old EU rules that restricted the sale of imperfect-looking fruit and vegetables.
The controversial proposal to reinstate the 'community marketing rules' gained the support of the European Parliament's agriculture committee last month, but it was heavily defeated by a vote of all MEPs in Brussels today (Thursday).
South West Liberal Democrat Graham Watson welcomed the rejection of a scheme which he said had in the past led to perfectly healthy fruit and veg being thrown away.
He said: "I want EU rules to ensure that food on sale is safe to eat, but shoppers can make up their own minds about whether to buy bendy bananas or crooked carrots."
"Why some countries feel consumers are concerned about how wonky or knobbly fruit and veg appears is absurd. At a time of global food shortages and rising prices its good we need measures to remove ridiculous regulations."
"Tragically supermarkets add to the waste by demanding that farmers supply them with only good looking products."
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats