Europe will end a two-decade ban on wonky fruit and vegetables by scrapping standards that keep misshapen mushrooms and curvy cucumbers out of supermarkets.

The European Union said on Tuesday dropping rules that only allow beautiful-looking produce to hit shop shelves would reduce waste and allow farmers to sell more of their crop.

British supermarket chain Sainsbury's called for the rule changes last year after it was prevented from launching a Halloween range of twisted vegetables.

It claimed store managers could get a criminal record for selling "zombies' brains" undersized cauliflowers, "ogres' toenails" bendy cucumbers and "witches' fingers" carrots with more than one finger for up to 40 per cent less than more attractive vegetables.