Call for plastic-wrapped veg ban amid health fears

ALARMING health warnings that microplastics are being found in human brains, blood and breastmilk sparked calls for a ban on single-use plastic on fresh fruit and vegetables.

- CHRIS HAINES

The Senedd wants a ban on plastic-wrapped vegetables

Rhys ab Owen, who sits as an independent, brought forward a cross-party proposal to ban the use of “unnecessary” single-use plastic packaging for fruit and veg.

He told the Senedd: “Plastic packaging makes no difference whatsoever to the shelf life of over 20 fruits and vegetables... Simply put, plastic packaging, very often, is entirely wasteful, unnecessary and purposeless. We don’t need that packaging at all.”

Raising a 61% increase in food-banks in Wales, Mr ab Owen pointed to research showing plastic packaging contributes to £2.1bn-worth of food waste in the UK every year.

Calling for fruit and veg to be sold in paper bags, he said food is becoming unaffordable for many and being able to buy smaller, rather than predetermined, amounts could help.