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Pareidolia is the tendency to perceive a specific, often meaningful image in a random or ambiguous visual pattern. And we've known about it for quite a while.

Leonardo da Vinci, for example, described seeing characters in natural markings on stone walls, which he believed could help inspire his artworks. And in the 1950s, the Bank of Canada had to withdraw a series of banknotes because people saw a grinning devil leaping from the curls of the Queen's hair.

However, pareidolia can be really fun, too. Just look at this list of photos from Bored Panda. At first glance, it looks like a seemingly casual batch of veggies and fruits. But a closer examination will reveal they have "become" something else. Enjoy!

#1

After Stewing In His Emotions, Emo Veg Comes To The Conclusion That The Root Of The World's Problems Is That People Don't Seem To Carrot All

After Stewing In His Emotions, Emo Veg Comes To The Conclusion That The Root Of The World's Problems Is That People Don't Seem To Carrot All

obvincognito Report

Sometimes, an abnormal look can make fruits and veggies land in the bin. Of course, food waste exists across the food supply chain due to pests and mold, poor climate control, and household waste, but imperfect produce is often turned away by grocery stores for not meeting strict cosmetic standards as well, making up around 40% of total food waste.

Philip Behn, the CEO of Imperfect Foods, a company that is on a mission to eliminate food waste, told Forbes that there are many reasons this could happen: "It could be a small quirk in appearance based on shape, size, or color that has no impact on flavor or nutrition. Beyond produce, perfectly good grocery items often go to waste for similarly illogical reasons. Grocers won't purchase or stock goods that are close to expiration or going through packaging changes, regardless of quality."

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Reducing food loss has been identified as one of the most effective ways to improve food security – an increasingly important challenge as the global population continues to grow. Plus, food waste also hugely contributes to global warming and our carbon footprint.

But ugly food is fighting back. More and more companies are selling ugly produce and using it in their products, reversing the fate of discarded monstrosities to delicious, perfectly edible, and nutritious food.

The ugly produce movement also has the potential to pass lower prices onto customers.

So if you stumble upon a radish that resembles a foot — buy it. You'll be doing your part.

#5

Going To Have To Eat This Chicken As It Hasn't Laid A Single Bloody Egg Yet

Going To Have To Eat This Chicken As It Hasn't Laid A Single Bloody Egg Yet

Grove Farm, Bonnyrigg Report

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Cip IESAN
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So, the mad evil scientist crossbreeded a sparrow with a strawberry...

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#6

This Incredible Carrot Hand Was Found While Digging Juice Carrots At Our Farm Today

This Incredible Carrot Hand Was Found While Digging Juice Carrots At Our Farm Today

Moby-Dickens Report

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#8

She Thought He Did Not Carrot All, But He Bought Her 21-Carrot Ring

She Thought He Did Not Carrot All, But He Bought Her 21-Carrot Ring

imgur.com Report

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#9

Foot Shaped Radish Goes On Display

Foot Shaped Radish Goes On Display

Nine_Fingers Report

#10

Naughty Pears

Naughty Pears

imgur Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Farmer: 'So I was walking in the orchard and kept hearing moans but there was nobody there except me. No idea what was going on".

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#12

This Banana Looks Exactly Like My Mom's Dog

This Banana Looks Exactly Like My Mom's Dog

imgur.com Report

#15

This Onion Looks Like An Angry Bird

This Onion Looks Like An Angry Bird

imgur.com Report

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#16

F**k You Too, Broccoli

F**k You Too, Broccoli

imgur.com Report

#17

This Tomato That Grew In Our Garden Is Shaped Like A Butterfly

This Tomato That Grew In Our Garden Is Shaped Like A Butterfly

Kr1tya3 Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gives new meaning to the saying 'having butterflies in your stomach'

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#18

This Yam Looks Like A Human Hand

This Yam Looks Like A Human Hand

pm_me_ur_bussy Report

#19

This Pumpkin In Our Garden Split And It Looks Like It Has Teeth

This Pumpkin In Our Garden Split And It Looks Like It Has Teeth

lokigivesmeloves Report

#20

An Exceptionally Suave And Sophisticated Daikon Radish

An Exceptionally Suave And Sophisticated Daikon Radish

the2belo Report

#22

This Strawberry Looks Like A Butterfly

This Strawberry Looks Like A Butterfly

sicknickmondo Report

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#26

The Skin On My Apple Kinda Looks Like The Silhouette Of A Camel

The Skin On My Apple Kinda Looks Like The Silhouette Of A Camel

Natalia_Kelly Report

#27

I Thought This Gourd Looked Like A Snail

I Thought This Gourd Looked Like A Snail

snaz27 Report

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Airis Malfoy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when you ignore the green part, and look at the yellow one, it looks like Sid the Sloth from Ice age.... or is it just me? https://images.app.goo.gl/EFXnb2GoJF35dbiA7

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#28

This Purple Carrot Looks Like A Bartender Ready To Take Your Drink Order And Listen To Your Troubles

This Purple Carrot Looks Like A Bartender Ready To Take Your Drink Order And Listen To Your Troubles

nancyxxu Report

#29

I Thought There Was A Severed Finger In My Fruit Bowl. It Was Just Some Ginger

I Thought There Was A Severed Finger In My Fruit Bowl. It Was Just Some Ginger

Seawench41 Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can't fool us! I know how a severed finger looks like when I see one! .... *cough* cause I've seen them in movies. In movies, yes.

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#32

So Aparrotly This Is Milkweed

So Aparrotly This Is Milkweed

imgur.com Report

#33

This Small Red Potato Looks Like An Anatomical Heart

This Small Red Potato Looks Like An Anatomical Heart

Jztak7 Report

#34

I Don't Think I Can Eat This Potato

I Don't Think I Can Eat This Potato

capnfantasy Report

#35

My Friend Found A Lemon Shaped Like An Elephant

My Friend Found A Lemon Shaped Like An Elephant

fink Report

#38

My Wife's Bell Pepper Looks Like A Big Nosed Grumpy Old Man Smoking A Cig

My Wife's Bell Pepper Looks Like A Big Nosed Grumpy Old Man Smoking A Cig

poznasty Report

#39

We Grew An Eggplant That Looks Like The Poop Emoji

We Grew An Eggplant That Looks Like The Poop Emoji

SadOni0n Report

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#40

My Potato Looks Like It's Trying To Escape Itself

My Potato Looks Like It's Trying To Escape Itself

Moonri Report

#41

This Jalapeño Looks Like A T-Rex

This Jalapeño Looks Like A T-Rex

AberrantDevices Report

#46

This Carrot Wants To Be An Astronaut

This Carrot Wants To Be An Astronaut

reddit.com Report

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#48

My Friend’s Smoked Cauliflower Looks Like An Explosion

My Friend’s Smoked Cauliflower Looks Like An Explosion

orkenbjorken Report

#50

Tomato My Wife Grew vs. One Our Friends Bought

Tomato My Wife Grew vs. One Our Friends Bought

Litre Report

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#51

My Celeriac Scared The Devil Out Of Me

My Celeriac Scared The Devil Out Of Me

Prefect01 Report

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Tammie Johnson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel as though this celeriac root may have been planted on top of an ancient Indian burial ground.

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#52

My Apple Looks Like Its Still Loading

My Apple Looks Like Its Still Loading

FreqRL Report

#53

This Strawberry I Found Is Shaped Like A Perfect Flower

This Strawberry I Found Is Shaped Like A Perfect Flower

marti_628 Report

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Raven DeathShade
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My sisters and I were cutting tomatoes when we found one that had a perfect flower shape inside.

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#54

Brilliant Spider-Man Homecoming Cosplay

Brilliant Spider-Man Homecoming Cosplay

JaylockSB Report

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How did they get such a high resolution photo of my willpower holding my brain together 🤔

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#58

I'm Seeing Tomato Elephants

I'm Seeing Tomato Elephants

jake_megabyte Report

#59

Scary Figure Inside This Cabbage

Scary Figure Inside This Cabbage

papag3 Report

#60

The Tomato We Grew Looks Like Sauron’s Eye

The Tomato We Grew Looks Like Sauron’s Eye

coffeeandpuppers Report

#61

My Dad Found This Little Guy While Peeling Some Vegetables

My Dad Found This Little Guy While Peeling Some Vegetables

eenish Report

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Julia Atkinson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A timely reminder that vegetables can be funny without being pornographic

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#62

Oh The Horrors

Oh The Horrors

_AlexHirsch Report

#63

Buff Carrot

Buff Carrot

DariaArbuz Report

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mcborge1
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like it's working security. "If your name ain't down you're not coming in".

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#64

This Peanut Looks Like A Duck

This Peanut Looks Like A Duck

kidamy Report

#65

My Sweet Potato Looks Like A Sea Lion

My Sweet Potato Looks Like A Sea Lion

cheese--girl Report

#66

My Ginger Has A Gnome Growing From It

My Ginger Has A Gnome Growing From It

slugsongs Report

#68

This Pumpkin Stem Looks Like A Dragon

This Pumpkin Stem Looks Like A Dragon

uglypatty Report

#71

Work In Food Production, Found A Baby Carrot We All Thought Was A Human Finger At First

Work In Food Production, Found A Baby Carrot We All Thought Was A Human Finger At First

AlwaysAlpharius Report

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#72

This Blueberry Looks Like An Owl's Head

This Blueberry Looks Like An Owl's Head

Two_drei_cuatro Report

#73

This Carrot Looks Like It's Walking

This Carrot Looks Like It's Walking

9999monkeys Report

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Mihai Mara
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I'm walking away / From the troubles in my life I'm walking away / Oh, to find a better day"

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#75

I Sliced Open This Green Pepper To Reveal A Smiley Face On Both Halves

I Sliced Open This Green Pepper To Reveal A Smiley Face On Both Halves

Globular_Cluster Report

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally a smiling bell pepper, as opposed to the screaming zombie ones X(

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#76

My Mom Cut Into Her Carrot And Found A Smiley Face

My Mom Cut Into Her Carrot And Found A Smiley Face

shegoesgentle Report

#78

This Stem Looks Like A Person Who Stepped In A Tomato

This Stem Looks Like A Person Who Stepped In A Tomato

AlwaysDefenestrated Report

#79

Both The Banana Slice And My Dog Just Thinking Right Now - What The Hell Is So Funny Steve?

Both The Banana Slice And My Dog Just Thinking Right Now - What The Hell Is So Funny Steve?

CloudyAero Report

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Brandi VanSteenwyk
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe dogs and bananas have some sort of connection? My doggo will bug the heck outta me until I peel and feed her any banana she might see or sniff out.

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#83

I Found A Man’s Face In My Watermelon

I Found A Man’s Face In My Watermelon

ganondork95 Report

#84

Vegetable Looks Like A Giant Foot

Vegetable Looks Like A Giant Foot

Amiibroke1 Report

#85

The Way This Tomato From My Garden Looks Like A Giant Ant Is Eating It

The Way This Tomato From My Garden Looks Like A Giant Ant Is Eating It

24hleft Report

#86

This Gigantic Potato That Looks Like Sid From Ice Age

This Gigantic Potato That Looks Like Sid From Ice Age

Surturrr Report

#87

This Tomato From My Garden Is Shaped Like A Bunny Head

This Tomato From My Garden Is Shaped Like A Bunny Head

Buscemee Report

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#89

This Tomato Looks Like A Duck

This Tomato Looks Like A Duck

Eaysonle Report

#92

Inside Of This Tomato Looks Like A Perfect Strawberry

Inside Of This Tomato Looks Like A Perfect Strawberry

Calpa Report

#94

My Boyfriend’s Homegrown Potato Looks Like The Reddit Icon

My Boyfriend’s Homegrown Potato Looks Like The Reddit Icon

dalmatiansalvation Report

#95

This Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Rabbit

This Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Rabbit

Mrvinochino Report

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#96

I Present To You A Buddha's Hand Fruit, Looks Like An Octopus

I Present To You A Buddha's Hand Fruit, Looks Like An Octopus

BILLYMAYSHEREFOROXYCONTIN Report

#98

This Cucumber Looking Like A Duck

This Cucumber Looking Like A Duck

lukas__03 Report

#100

Sliced Green Pepper In Half And It Decided To Smile Back At Me

Sliced Green Pepper In Half And It Decided To Smile Back At Me

stylez89 Report

#102

This Sweet Potato We Got That Looks Like A Bird

This Sweet Potato We Got That Looks Like A Bird

OnionComb Report

#103

There’s Small Pepper Growing Out Of Our Larger One Which Ironically Looks Like A Baby

There’s Small Pepper Growing Out Of Our Larger One Which Ironically Looks Like A Baby

TheTaroMaster Report

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#104

Found This Happy Kiwi In My Lunch Yesterday

Found This Happy Kiwi In My Lunch Yesterday

Bosma23 Report

#105

This Tomato Looks Like A Rubber Duckie

This Tomato Looks Like A Rubber Duckie

SpuddyMcSpud Report

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Melissa J
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Rubber ducky you're the one. You make bathtime lots of fun"🦆🛀

#107

Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Disembodied Finger

Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Disembodied Finger

Charlie_Blackwater Report

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Chuckie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know where the other one is, we need to find the remaining 3..

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#108

This Potato Looks Like A One-Eyed Canadian From South Park

This Potato Looks Like A One-Eyed Canadian From South Park

glass_frogs Report

#110

The Veggie Wars Have Begun

The Veggie Wars Have Begun

imgur.com Report

#111

It's What's On The Inside That Counts

It's What's On The Inside That Counts

uglyfruitandveg Report

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#114

This Sweet Potato That Looks Like A Human Heart

This Sweet Potato That Looks Like A Human Heart

jimmycone Report

#115

Half-Human Half-Carrot

Half-Human Half-Carrot

starclancats Report

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Full Name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Well you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a carrot man. No time to talk" - Bee Gees

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#117

This Sweet Potato Looks Like A Happy Little Whale

This Sweet Potato Looks Like A Happy Little Whale

owme Report

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Phil DeBlanc
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or a baby xenomorph from Alien popping out of someone's chest.

#118

My Ginger Root Looks Like A Sitting Elephant

My Ginger Root Looks Like A Sitting Elephant

prismo_ Report

#119

A Cherry Tomato That Looks Like It Has Horns Like Satan

A Cherry Tomato That Looks Like It Has Horns Like Satan

quartamilk Report

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#121

This Strawberry Looks Like A Little Guy

This Strawberry Looks Like A Little Guy

aalpi_i Report

#122

I Found Two Blueberries Fused Together. It Looks Like A Pair Of Eyes

I Found Two Blueberries Fused Together. It Looks Like A Pair Of Eyes

WeirdPerson635 Report

#123

This Vegetable Sort Of Looks Like Snoopy

This Vegetable Sort Of Looks Like Snoopy

YoshJoo Report

#124

I Grew A Rare Bell Pepe

I Grew A Rare Bell Pepe

3PeteIII Report

#125

The Rare Dragon Pepper - Guaranteed To Breath Fire And Spice Into Your Meal

The Rare Dragon Pepper - Guaranteed To Breath Fire And Spice Into Your Meal

uglyfruitandveg Report

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Kim Steffen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hotter peppers seem to be on the small side. Thai chili peppers are deceptively hot.

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#126

My Ginger That Looks Like A Lobster

My Ginger That Looks Like A Lobster

ArtWurx Report

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#127

Banana Slice Looks Like A Sad Bichon Frise Dog

Banana Slice Looks Like A Sad Bichon Frise Dog

noctalla Report

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#128

Potato Man

Potato Man

lurkylurklurklurky Report

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