How 'sad' bananas could help tackle food waste

Unsold solitary bananas are one of the most wasted types of food.

- Lisa Eckmann

Bananas are a sociable fruit. They thrive in bunches, bound by a unifying stalk which joins them happily together in curvy yellow brightness.

But what about the ones which get separated from the bunch? Cast aside as single entities, they become isolated and alone.

Research I carried out with my colleagues shows that some shoppers feel sorry for these singletons. And it could have big implications for dealing with food waste.

For unsold solitary bananas, more likely to be thrown away than their unsold bunched counterparts, are one of the most wasted types of food. Many food waste reduction plans mention single bananas as a particular problem.

This is a different issue to that of consumers rejecting "wonky" fruit and vegetables which fail to meet aesthetic standards. In those cases, shoppers may be put off by odd shapes or discoloration, despite the food being perfectly tasty and nutritious underneath.

But it seems that perceived "imperfections" in fresh produce can also relate to how the produce is presented. And the problem is particularly acute for bananas that have been separated from the bunches they normally come in.