Sainsbury’s had to drop plans to launch healthy eating campaign at the eleventh hour since its staff could be prosecuted individually for use of wonky vegetables banned under new EU regulations.

Sainsbury’s was to introduce Halloween ‘witches fingers’ carrots ‘zombie brains’ cucumbers and ‘ogres toenails’ using misshapen and small size vegetables.

It had thought that Halloween would add a healthy message for children and enable use of surplus vegetables knowing that it was illegal. But later on it learnt that the EU would prosecute individual store managers for violation and not the company. Sainsbury decided not to ask staff to risk criminal prosecution for the sake of company.

Now Sainsbury’s has launched a “Save Our British Fruit and Veg” campaign; against EU’s strict specifications on selling misshaped but cheaper, fresh produce.

EU has clamped strict restrictions on appearance and size of 36 vegetables and fruits. According to EU regulations for supermarkets, it is illegal to sell carrots with more than one root or cauliflowers less than 11cm in diameter.

Farmers, retailers and environmentalists have been outraged over the regulation.

The credit crunch and difficult economic conditions have forced the EU to take a re-look at the regulations. Commission officials are scheduled to meet on 12 November to relax directives on 26 of the vegetables and fruits, but the change is not likely to be implemented before July 2009.

Sainsbury’s wanted a decision to be taken quickly and called for a lifting of restrictions on all fruits and vegetables. The regulation would cause 20% of British farmers’ produce to go to waste.

The campaign against EU regulation is receiving wide support across all sections in the UK.