A study found that labelling lone bananas in supermarkets as "sad singles" increased sales by appealing to people's empathy. Researchers placed a sign above a basket of single bananas with a sad face and a message asking to be bought. Sales of the sad bananas increased by 58 percent, while "happy" signs increased sales by only 5.4 percent. Single bananas are often wasted, making them the most wasted item with a high climate impact. The study suggests that tapping into people's emotions can reduce food waste.

Anthropomorphizing food, such as with "sad" or "happy" labels, can help sell imperfect produce and evoke feelings of warmth and compassion. The need to belong is a basic human motivation, and "sad" produce can make people feel compassion, particularly in the context of social exclusion. The study's findings have practical applications for boosting sales and reducing food waste in supermarkets.