Science2 mins ago
Bent Bananas and nobbly carrots- woohoo!
Apparently our masters at the EU have finally given up on trying to get fruit and veg to grow uniformly! Apparently bananas refused to straighten up! Have they finally realised that there are more important things? Is this a victory for common sense? What loopy policy will they abandon next?
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Well done Geezer, you are the proud winner of a Blue Gromit Badge awarded for the longest swallowing of a Euro myth.
The EU have never had a problem with bent bananas.
Here is the correct answer: the commissioners have no problem with straight bananas, it's the crooked ones they don't like so much, but they have never banned them. As Commission Regulation (EC) 2257/94 puts it, bananas must be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature". In the case of "Extra class" bananas, there is no wiggle room, but Class 1 bananas can have "slight defects of shape", and Class 2 bananas can have full-on "defects of shape".
No attempt is made to define "abnormal curvature" in the case of bananas, which must lead to lots of arguments. Contrast the case of cucumbers (Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1677/88), where Class I and "Extra class" cucumbers are allowed a bend of 10mm per 10cm of length. Class II cucumbers can bend twice as much.
The EU have never had a problem with bent bananas.
Here is the correct answer: the commissioners have no problem with straight bananas, it's the crooked ones they don't like so much, but they have never banned them. As Commission Regulation (EC) 2257/94 puts it, bananas must be "free from malformation or abnormal curvature". In the case of "Extra class" bananas, there is no wiggle room, but Class 1 bananas can have "slight defects of shape", and Class 2 bananas can have full-on "defects of shape".
No attempt is made to define "abnormal curvature" in the case of bananas, which must lead to lots of arguments. Contrast the case of cucumbers (Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1677/88), where Class I and "Extra class" cucumbers are allowed a bend of 10mm per 10cm of length. Class II cucumbers can bend twice as much.
Ok they've haven't said they have to be straight but there is a regulation on the maximum curvature of bananas, is there not? Anyway what about the overall question was there ever so much resource devoted to something so irrelevant?
Oh and I think that's the first ever Blue Gromit badge, I shall treasure this future priceless bauble!
Oh and I think that's the first ever Blue Gromit badge, I shall treasure this future priceless bauble!
There wasn't really much resources devoted to this regulation.
The nobbly carrot, which was a constant feature of programmes like 'That's Life' were actually cheating the consumer. You could not peel them or use them. If you were sold one then you had no recourse than to throw it away. The EU regulations just described what was and what wasn't fit for sale to the public.
Rather than being ridiculous, it is in fact stating the bleedin obvious. If the fruit is malformed then it should go into food processing rather than sold to the general public.
Why this perfectly reasonable regulation captured the imagination and the scorn of the Euro Skeptics is an even bigger mystery.
The nobbly carrot, which was a constant feature of programmes like 'That's Life' were actually cheating the consumer. You could not peel them or use them. If you were sold one then you had no recourse than to throw it away. The EU regulations just described what was and what wasn't fit for sale to the public.
Rather than being ridiculous, it is in fact stating the bleedin obvious. If the fruit is malformed then it should go into food processing rather than sold to the general public.
Why this perfectly reasonable regulation captured the imagination and the scorn of the Euro Skeptics is an even bigger mystery.
There is an entire database here
http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/euromy ths/index_en.htm
Of Euromyths
Great game! make up a ridiculous EuroMyth and then claim that the EU has done a U turn and claim a victory for common sense!
http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/euromy ths/index_en.htm
Of Euromyths
Great game! make up a ridiculous EuroMyth and then claim that the EU has done a U turn and claim a victory for common sense!
Actually, leaving aside any EU directive, you ain't gonna be seeing any 'non-standard' fruit and veg in your local Sainsburys any time soon.
Supermarkets regularly reject non-standard consumables because 'the market doesn't want it'.
I remember back in the 70s, potatoes had dirt on them and carrots could be any shape (keeping Esther Rantzen in employment on That's Life every Sunday night).
It's not like that any more, and that's nothing to do with the EU. When was the last time you were able to buy a suspiciously phallic-shaped cougette?
Not recently, I;d wager.
Supermarkets regularly reject non-standard consumables because 'the market doesn't want it'.
I remember back in the 70s, potatoes had dirt on them and carrots could be any shape (keeping Esther Rantzen in employment on That's Life every Sunday night).
It's not like that any more, and that's nothing to do with the EU. When was the last time you were able to buy a suspiciously phallic-shaped cougette?
Not recently, I;d wager.
If the price was right the public would buy them. I grow some excellently curved cuecumbers that the EU would hate. They tast great and there is no wastage.
Much of this comes from the fact the EU do (and did) make a directive that is woooly and stupid. Teh UK then takes it to the extreme.
If you want non straight goods try your local market. You will probably fniord they tast better and dont last a rediculous length of time due to radiation or whatever they do to them.
Much of this comes from the fact the EU do (and did) make a directive that is woooly and stupid. Teh UK then takes it to the extreme.
If you want non straight goods try your local market. You will probably fniord they tast better and dont last a rediculous length of time due to radiation or whatever they do to them.
Onlay at request of National Governments and industry
http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/euromy ths/myth05_en.htm
Why the industry wanted them curved I don't know I guess you better ask Tesco.
However I rather guess that the big supermarkets wanted to regulate the products to what they wanted to sell.
I don't think anyone in Brussels sat down and said "You know what would be a laugh......"
http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/euromy ths/myth05_en.htm
Why the industry wanted them curved I don't know I guess you better ask Tesco.
However I rather guess that the big supermarkets wanted to regulate the products to what they wanted to sell.
I don't think anyone in Brussels sat down and said "You know what would be a laugh......"
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