How 'sad' bananas can help with food waste

Would you rescue a lonely banana?

If you see a single pea or a tiny bit of carrot left on your plate, do you feel sorry that it's been left behind?

If you do - turns out you're not alone.

Researchers from the University of Bath say shoppers are more likely to buy a single banana if they're told the banana is sad and alone.

Unsold single bananas contribute to 131 million tonnes of waste in the retail sector but this research suggests tugging at our heartstrings could be the answer.

Labelling lone bananas as "sad singles" increased sales by over half, say researchers.

A sign in German with a banana saying "We are sad singles, and also want to be bought"

Researchers from the University of Bath compared how shoppers reacted to two different descriptions of single bananas and tomatoes.

One set were described as "sad singles" and another described as "happy singles".

The researchers found that both techniques were more successful than a sign describing the fruit with no emotion.

But shoppers were more likely to buy singles if the sign described the tomatoes and bananas as being "sad".

Dr Lisa Eckmann from the Bath Retail Lab said, "Labelling bananas with sad facial expressions sounds cute, but there's very much a serious purpose."

She described the technique as an "easy, low cost" way to reduce food waste.