"It's a victory for ugly food" says Laura Sandys
- 29 September 2012 06:47193426Press release....
A Victory for Ugly Food
Following her campaign for ugly food to be stocked on supermarket shelves rather than ploughed back into fields, Laura Sandys MP today welcomed the news that Sainsbury's has relaxed its rules on the aesthetic appearance of fresh fruit and vegetables on sale in its stores.
Laura said: "With one of the wettest years on record causing damage to harvests, Sainsbury's have taken the bold and responsible decision to sell fruit and vegetables that once would have been seen as too ugly to grace our supermarket trolleys. Around 40% of fresh produce is rejected for being misshapen or the 'wrong' colour and so today's announcement marks a huge victory for all those who have campaigned against food waste.
"Waitrose and Morrisons are reportedly set to follow in Sainsburys' footsteps and so let's hope we have spurred a revolution across UK supermarkets. At a time when many families are struggling to afford to put food on the table, and global consumption is rocketing, it's time the supermarkets recognised that consumers care very little about whether cucumbers are bent, potatoes are knobbly or apples are perfectly round. Food must be valued on the basis of nutritional value, not whether it is fit for the cat-walk."
-ENDS-email: dover7@msn.com - 29 September 2012 06:57193427Anyone who spends time on a farm or even grew up on one will know that vegetables have a habit of growing to any shape they desire while in the earth. In rural places people dont worry too much about the shape of things on the dinner table..after all you can chop the things to any shape you like.
But the modern day townie consumer doesnt really believe that vegetables come from all that muddd and earth...no sir.. they somehow manifest themselves onto supermarket shelves in nice shapes, nice colours, and nice plastic packages.
Good to see that sense is beginning to take hold. Throwing away food that isnt 'nice looking' is a bit of a scandal. Using all shapes and sizes will make the supply more plentiful and could bring prices down. Even if they come down a tad then it will be good for all..particularly for the poorer consumer such as pensioners and so on.
email: dover7@msn.com - 29 September 2012 08:52193437i had no idea that vast amount of food was being wasted, explains why so much produce in our supermarkets looks like it has been manufactured in a factory.
- 29 September 2012 09:00193438We get a small percentage of ugly veg from our allotment,it`s never thrown away.....
guess what it tastes exactly the same...... - 29 September 2012 10:26193441If it's from your allotment then it probably tastes better.
- 29 September 2012 11:06193446We have blaunched and frozen about 5kg of runner beans in the last few weeks - lots of them ugly but taste great! Should stop us getting scurvy through the winter.
- 29 September 2012 11:17193450i used to grow runner beans, the problem is i cannot eat shop bought ones now due to the bland taste in comparison.
the same applies to peas, radishes and spring onions. - 29 September 2012 11:26193451# 6...Well done we wish we had saved some but we have enjoyed six weeks of runner
beans.It really is our favorite crop.We intend to plant double the rows next year.
# 7..agree it applies to all veg and fruit grown on an allotment. - 29 September 2012 11:34193453you can actually eat a plate of home grown runner beans on their own i find, swimming in butter.
- 29 September 2012 12:11193454"swimming in butter"
Was this not how Channel Swimmers of old did their thing?Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 29 September 2012 13:55193456# 9............thought I was the only one who did that....
- 29 September 2012 16:46193467I agree with Howard, yes, you can eat a plateful of runner beans on their own with sauce or butter, lovely !! (Home grown ones I mean).---------------------------------------------------
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