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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

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    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."

    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.

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    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-67 avatar
    Cip IESAN
    Community Member
    2 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

    #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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    mihaimara avatar
    Mihai Mara
    Community Member
    2 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

    #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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    mihaimara avatar
    Mihai Mara
    Community Member
    2 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

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    #22

    This Strawberry Looks Like A Butterfly

    This Strawberry Looks Like A Butterfly

    sicknickmondo Report

    #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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    slytherclawprincess199 avatar
    Airis Malfoy
    Community Member
    2 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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    mihaimara avatar
    Mihai Mara
    Community Member
    2 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

    #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

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    #44

    It Looks Exactly Like Larry Bird

    It Looks Exactly Like Larry Bird

    bingowings14 Report

    #46

    This Carrot Wants To Be An Astronaut

    This Carrot Wants To Be An Astronaut

    reddit.com Report

    #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

    #51

    My Celeriac Scared The Devil Out Of Me

    My Celeriac Scared The Devil Out Of Me

    Prefect01 Report

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    tammiejohnson avatar
    Tammie Johnson
    Community Member
    2 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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    icanhazpanda avatar
    Raven DeathShade
    Community Member
    2 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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    laurencaswell4 avatar
    Lauren Caswell
    Community Member
    2 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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    juliaa1960 avatar
    Julia Atkinson
    Community Member
    2 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 avatar
    mcborge1
    Community Member
    2 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

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    #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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    mihaimara avatar
    Mihai Mara
    Community Member
    2 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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    laurencaswell4 avatar
    Lauren Caswell
    Community Member
    2 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

    #77

    This Beet That Is Perfectly Shaped Like A Human Heart

    This Beet That Is Perfectly Shaped Like A Human Heart

    roliasrotcod 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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    brandivansteenwyk avatar
    Brandi VanSteenwyk
    Community Member
    2 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

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    #89

    This Tomato Looks Like A Duck

    This Tomato Looks Like A Duck

    Eaysonle 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

    See Also on Bored Panda
    #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

    #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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    melissajgunnels avatar
    Melissa J
    Community Member
    2 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"🦆🛀

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    #107

    Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Disembodied Finger

    Piece Of Ginger Looks Like A Disembodied Finger

    Charlie_Blackwater Report

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    dilekkantaroglu avatar
    Chuckie
    Community Member
    2 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

    #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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    simerese avatar
    Full Name
    Community Member
    2 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_n_deblanc1 avatar
    Phil DeBlanc
    Community Member
    2 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

    #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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    kas98115 avatar
    Kim Steffen
    Community Member
    2 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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    alcocer99 avatar
    Joe Alcocer
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I squint my eyes really close I can kind of make it out.