Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

 

[Luckyus]

I loved eating tomatoes in any shape or form, but now unfortunately can only eat tomatoes cooked,

 

[Suzanne rose]

I love colour in my salad so looking forward to trying this one

 

[Gazman]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

So long as they have tested and made sure that it's not harmful to us. At my age 'm

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

So long as they've tested and made sure it won't harm us. At mge does it really matter anyway. They look tasty and I will try them. Yum yum

 

[lozat54]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

Absolutely, any additional healthy foods are a plus! Purple colour in fruits & veggies always indicated a greater concentration of amazing nutrients, purple carrots, purple cabbage…blueberries…all super great for our micro biome & therefore our overall good health!! Wonderful to see this story on here…Invest in these foods instead of Maccas (&similar) crap that I often see promoted on this site!!

 

[PossumBilt]

My partner Lynne has about 38 various types & colours of Cherry Tomatoes & about the same amount of Chilli's

 

[Defiant540]

no thanks!

 

[Ezzy]

As long as l know it is safe, approved, tested & benefit me Healthwise, why not try it..

 

[Ricci]

I can remember as a kid we used to get to try all manner of fancy veg and I'm sure we had purple tomatoes, I know we had yellow and orange ones as well as red and striped. One year we even had square tomatoes. My Dad was a gardener of some renown and we used to get samples of all the new fruit and veg to try in a noncommercial setting. Salads were really interesting in our household!!

 

[Liag]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

We can already get purple tomatoes in Australia, but they're natural, heritage tomatoes. There's no way in the world I would touch anything genetically modified, there's not long term studies to show how they might affect us in the long term.

 

[Thecla]

If this gene is in blackberries why didn't they extract it from there instead of a snapdragon? I think someone previous said we already have purple tomatoes....I grew some last year a kind of blackish purple. They were tasty too. But I am happy for the Americans to keep on with trialing them wink wink

 

[Tipsy]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

Hell yea, I would eat them and have actually.. They were called "Black Russian" Tomatoes and are delicious.... All dark coloured veges are better than the others.....

 

[Connie B]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

I like all tomatoes & look forward to tasting this one

 

[Fisherman2320]

I have been eating them for awhile.

If you do a web search for HEIRLOOM vegetable seeds Australia you'll find out that these are N.G.M.

 

[macro52]

I'm sure I have seen purple tomato seeds for sale already and it's a fact that we have seen modified fruit and vegetables and that's why tomatoes don't taste as they used to when I was a kid in the 50's and 60's.

 

[Geoff8]

Fruit and vegetables that have been changed through genetic engineering have been around for longer than you might think. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables we get to eat and enjoy today are the result of extensive breeding efforts to develop the ideal variations.

Now, a new genetically modified fruit that is believed to be 'healthier' than the standard kind is about to make its way onto supermarket shelves. Are you looking forward to trying it?

There will soon be a genetically engineered purple tomato available in international supermarkets, with the intention of providing consumers with ten times the antioxidant protection of regular tomatoes.

Scientists at Norfolk Plant Sciences created the 'super tomato' by crossing it with snapdragon flower genes to increase the concentration of anthocyanins, which have been shown to be beneficial against diabetes, cancer, inflammation, and other diseases.

The 'super tomato' is purple because it contains more antioxidant pigments than regular tomatoes. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) authorised the purple tomato earlier this month after a review period of 13 months, making it the first genetically modified product to be allowed for domestic production in the United States.

Cathie Martin, a plant biologist and co-founder of Norfolk Plant Science company, says that they want to sell the gene-hacked seeds to home growers first. This way, the tomatoes will go straight to the consumers, which can help them figure out how to make other healthy products.

In 2008, Martin and her co-founder Jonathan Jones created the first genetically modified tomato by inserting two genes from a snapdragon flower to create the deep purple colour.

The characteristic tint is caused by antioxidant pigments that are also present in blackberries and cranberries, known as anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are made of chemicals called flavonoids that get rid of oxygen molecules that could be harmful to the body. Tomato plants naturally produce them; however, they are often only located in the plant's leaves.

Scientists used special bacteria to move the genes from the snapdragons into the tomato and then 'turned them on' once they were there.

Thus, the purple tomato was born. Of course, the new fruit also needed to be tested and evaluated to make sure it had any positive health effects the team was hoping for.

The purple tomatoes helped cancer-ridden mice live 30 per cent longer. Credit: Norfolk Plant Sciences.​

For the study, one group of mice with cancer was fed the genetically modified tomato, while another group was fed regular tomatoes. Scientists discovered that the mice given the purple tomato lived an average of 30 per cent longer than those given the regular tomato.

Even though the research was completed in 2008, it wasn't until September 7, 2022, that the 'super tomato' was approved by the government's food regulatory agencies.

'We found the plant is unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes. That means, from a plant pest risk perspective, this plant may be safely grown and used in breeding in the United States,' according to a press release from the USDA.

Now, researchers, Martin and Jones, want to get the genetically modified tomato approved for commercial production, distribution, and human consumption in the UK.

'We are now one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with the many people excited to eat them,' said Martin in an interview with a news outlet.

'The bittersweet thing is that the tomatoes will be on sale in America and not the UK as well. But the plus side is that by focusing on home growers, we will be consumer-oriented, and we will be able to get feedback and interest needed to develop other products.'

We're pretty sure that once they have been given the green light over there in the UK, these purple super tomatoes might also soon make their way here. What do you think about this development, folks? Are you looking to try these 'healthier' tomatoes? Let us know in the comments!

Yes I would definitely try these and would even try to grow them myself, my wife is a purple freak and loves everything purple.