Weird NewsREAL LAW OR INTERNET LAW?

European Union: The EU banned bananas that are too bendy.

The bendy banana rule applies fully only to top-grade Extra class fruit, while writing on a banknote really is an offence in Britain; the cab hay law fails.

On air: Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman on BBN This Morning
Published 8:54 AM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Weird News

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN This Morning at 8:54 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Wikipedia's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: European Parliament — Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Wikipedia: “European Union: The EU banned bananas that are too bendy.”, with reporting from legislation.gov.uk and bbc.co.uk.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 8:54 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Gloria Vance and Dale Bearman.
Topics: European, EU.
BBN covered this story before: Bournemouth gets its first European home night this week (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WikipediaEuropean Union: The EU banned bananas that are too bendy.
legislation.gov.ukEuropean Union: The EU banned bananas that are too bendy.
bbc.co.ukEuropean Union: The EU banned bananas that are too bendy.

What BBN said about it

Gloria Vance · World News AnchorFirst, from the European Union: the claim that bananas were banned for being too bendy.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorReal. First they straighten the fruit, then the roads, then us. The slippery slope is real.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorInternet. According to Wikipedia, it is the stereotypical Euromyth.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorShape rules apply fully only to Extra class bananas, and slight defects are allowed in Class I and Class II.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorSlight defects. That is how it starts.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSecond, from the United Kingdom: writing on a banknote is against the law.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorInternet. No government polices the pen. If it did, every phone number scribbled on a fiver would be a crime scene.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorReal.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorSection twelve of the Currency and Banknotes Act of nineteen twenty-eight covers anyone who prints, stamps or otherwise impresses words, letters or figures on a note, per legislation.gov.uk.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorI was wrong. Personally wrong. Write that down. Not on money.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have watched whole governments fall, Dale. You are taking a banknote very hard.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThird, from London: black cabs must carry a bale of hay and a sack of oats.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorReal. Horses ran this city once, and they are patient. They are waiting.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorMyth.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe BBC reports an 1831 law made it an offence to feed a cab horse unless from a bag of corn or hay from the hand.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorCabs never had to carry any, and it was repealed in nineteen seventy-six.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTwo out of three wrong. So civilization is holding steady, which somehow feels like the most frightening outcome.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe court notes that you are wearing a wig.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorYes, and a barrister's wig on a judge is a ridiculous thing. Final ruling on this entire court: internet.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorOverruled.

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