A slippery situation

Nine out of 10 households buy them often, they are the biggest single profit-maker for the multiples and, ranking high on the list of fresh produce superfoods, they are widely enjoyed as the healthiest fast-food available. Yet, bananas have been the cause of global disputes for over a decade, and with time running out before the controversial overhaul of the EU tariff regime is due, the sparks are flying particularly high just now. Elspeth Waters investigates.