Crossword Genius

Unacceptable fruit given to head of department, old-fashioned (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

outdated

'old-fashioned' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'unacceptable fruit given to head of department' is the wordplay.
'unacceptable' becomes 'out' (out can mean incorrect or inappropriate).
'fruit' becomes 'date' (date is a kind of fruit).
'given to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'head of' says to take the initial letters.
The first letter of 'department' is 'd'.
'out'+'date'+'d'='OUTDATED'

(Other definitions for outdated that I've seen before include "No longer valid or fashionable" , "Passe" , "Obsolete, antiquated" , "old hat" , "Pass" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.
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