Do Looks Matter? Report Shows 40% Of Fruit And Vegetables Wasted, Because They're... Ugly | HuffPost Life

Do Looks Matter? Report Shows 40% Of Fruit And Veg Wasted, Because They're... Ugly

PA/The Huffington Post UK

Up to two-fifths of a crop of fruit or vegetables can be wasted because it is "ugly", a report on food waste has shown.

Produce grown in the UK that does not meet retailer standards on size or shape or is blemished is often used for animal feed or simply ploughed back into the ground even though it is edible, with as much as 40% of a crop rejected.

The report, commissioned by the UK's global food security programme, also showed that the average household throws away more than 5kg (11lbs) food per week, and nearly two thirds of that waste is avoidable.

The waste costs £480 a year per household on average, and £680 per family.

Households throw away a fifth of the food they buy, wasting it for reasons ranging from cooking and preparing too much food to not using it in time before it goes off, the study showed.

Consumption and initial production are the areas where the majority of food is wasted in the UK, the study said.

Retailers respond to demands by consumers for high quality food by imposing standards that can lead to much of the crop being wasted, but some progress is being made with supermarkets marketing "odd shapes and sizes" for fruit and vegetables.

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Strange-Looking Superfoods

Cherimoya(01 of10)

Don't be thrown off by the scaly skin -- the exterior of this heart-shaped green fruit isn't for eating. Once ripe (it will feel soft to the touch), the skin turns brown, ABC News reported, and inside will be a creamy flesh that gives the cherimoya its nickname, the custard apple. The fruit tastes like a cross between a banana and a pineapple, according to Mother Nature Network. (Don't eat the black seeds, either.) It boasts more fiber than an apple with seven grams per fruit, and it packs 60 percent of your daily recommended vitamin C to boot. (credit:Flickr:Wendy Schotsmans)

Star Fruit(02 of10)

Technically called the carambola, this tropical fruit is more commonly known as the star fruit, thanks to the shape of its slices. It can add tart flavor to seafood or meat dishes, registered dietitian Mira Ilic told Woman's Day, and makes a tasty jam or chutney.Fresh, a medium-sized fruit packs only 28 calories, plus some potassium, fiber and more than half your daily recommended vitamin C, with the watery goodness of a watermelon and the crunch of a cucumber, ABC News reported. (credit:Flickr:YIM Hafiz)

Kumquats(03 of10)

Who shrunk the oranges?! These miniature bites may look cute, but they pack serious flavor in that tiny package. While they appear to be in the citrus family, some botanists classify them as Fortunella instead, NPR reported. Still, they share similar health benefits with lip-puckering citrus, namely vitamin C and fiber -- especially since you can eat the whole thing, rind and all. Just stay away from the "candied" variety; the syrupy sugar added to mitigate that natural tartness really only adds empty calories. Try kumquats sliced raw into salads or cooked into a chutney for seafood or meat dishes, NPR suggests. (credit:Flickr:Steven-L-Johnson)

Dragonfruit(04 of10)

Technically called a pitaya or pitahaya, this cactus -- yes, cactus! -- is a hot-pink showstopper. "From the outside the fruit looks like a hot pink bulb ringed with a jester's crown of curly greenish petals," The New York Times wrote in 2011:

Slice it open, and there's a white (or, on rare occasions, fuchsia) scoop of sweet pulp speckled with tiny black seeds. Either way, it suggests an Easter bonnet that Cruella de Vil might wear in a drag remake of "101 Dalmatians."

Its taste, however, is much less flashy, which is why dragon fruit is often added to dishes (or drinks) with "soft" flavors, according to the Times, like strawberry or even rose petal. It's rich in fiber and antioxidants, CBS reported, and may contain some healthy pre-biotics. (credit:Flickr:parrotstix)

Buddha's Hand(05 of10)

This finger-like fruit has a lemony taste without the pulpy texture of citrus. The rind works well for zesting, registered dietitian Jennifer Dimitriou told Woman's Day, since it packs even more flavor than a more traditional citrus fruit. Plus, it's loaded with vitamin C. Just one tablespoon provides 13 percent of your daily recommended intake. (credit:Flickr:PunkToad)

Kiwano(06 of10)

This spiky fruit could pass for a video game hazard. Also known as a horned melon or an African horned cucumber (or "blowfish fruit," for obvious reasons), you only eat the juicy green insides, which taste like a mix of zucchini, cucumber, kiwi and banana, according to Woman's Day and Mother Nature Network. Since the fruit is mostly water, kiwano can help keep you hydrated on a hot day, especially since it's rich in potassium. The fruit also boasts vitamins A and C and some iron. (credit:Flickr:mary_thompson)

Jackfruit(07 of10)

The largest fruit to grow on trees can reach up to 80 pounds(!), according to Mother Nature Network. Described as having a "buttery flesh," jackfruit is somewhat starchy and makes for tasty homemade chips. A number of curry recipes call for the fruit, although it can also be eaten raw, the Village Voice reported. It's a good source of vitamin C and manganese, a mineral found in the bones, liver, kidneys and pancreas that is also essential for brain and nerve function. (credit:Flickr:manojkaripot)

Rambutan(08 of10)

This lesser-known relative of the lychee deserves a share of the spotlight. The grape-like flesh can be eaten raw right out of the anemone-looking exterior -- just discard the seed. The fruit contains some vitamin C, iron and manganese, but beware canned varieties which may be packed in sugary syrup. (credit:Flickr:phunkstarr)

Mangosteen(09 of10)

Underneath that tough shell, the fruit of the mangosteen is "sweet, tangy, citrusy and peachy," according to Mother Nature Network. It packs some fiber, iron and vitamin C and is a good source of folate, a B vitamin especially important for pregnant women. It can carry a hefty price tag fresh, but keep in mind that canned versions often are packed in syrup (read: sugar). (credit:Flickr:YIM Hafiz)

Turmeric Root(10 of10)

You've probably come across it in powdered form on your spice rack, but that turmeric actually starts out as a pretty gnarly looking root. It will take a little grinding or grating, but you can toss it into any number of dishes (or even smoothies) to reap a number of health benefits.Those perks are likely due to curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, which acts as a powerful antioxidant. There's some research to suggest curcumin could help fight off some types of cancer, arthritis and even Alzheimer's disease, among other ailments, according to the American Cancer Society. Like other herbs and spices, turmeric is a way to add lots of flavor without lots of calories, salt or fat. (credit:Alamy)

There is also growing evidence that more UK consumers are prepared to accept "ugly" fruit and vegetables, amid concerns over sustainability and increasing food prices, the research said.

In developing countries, much of the loss of food occurs during post-harvesting storage, processing and packaging.

Tackling waste globally is a major part of the action needed to provide enough food to feed a growing world population sustainably and tackle hunger which affects one in eight people worldwide, the report said.

Around a third of food produced globally is lost or wasted.

See Also: 10 Weird Superfoods You Should Try

Professor Tim Benton, global food security champion, said: "Over five million people in the UK live in deep poverty, where basic food provision is a daily challenge.

"Nearly 400,000 people needed support from food banks last year according to the Trussel Trust.

"At the same time, 15 million tonnes of food is wasted annually, with nearly half discarded within UK households. Reducing the scale of losses and waste throughout the entire food system is a crucial step towards improving global food security."

The report highlights priorities for research to help reduce food waste, including improving harvesting and packaging technologies, good seasonal weather prediction and new ways to reduce food waste within the home.

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