A genetically modified purple tomato developed by Norfolk Plant Sciences could be sold in the United States in 2023.
Photo: Andrew Davies – John Innes Center/EurekAlert / Courtesy
Soon you’ll be able to find completely purple tomatoes in US grocery stores. Genetically modified tomatoes have received regulatory approval from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to change their color and improve their nutritional qualities.
To develop purple tomatoes indoors and outdoors, scientists have been working for 15 years. The fruits owe their bright color to pigments called anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins give blackberries and blueberries their distinctive color, and it is because of these plant chemicals that berries are associated with heart and brain health benefits. Anthocyanins are important antioxidants for an anti-inflammatory diet.
“Pet tomatoes already have genes for anthocyanin production, but they are not “turned on” in most fruits”explains BigPurpleTomato.com. The scientists added two dragon plant genes that function as “on switches,” and the purple pigment is produced throughout the tomato, not just the skin.
The purple tomatoes were developed by a team of scientists from Norfolk Plant Science, including British biochemist Cathie Martin, a professor at the University of East Anglia and project leader at the John Innes Center in Norwich, England.
The new tomatoes were reviewed by the USDA Plant and Animal Health Inspection Service of Norfolk Plant Sciences. It was determined that the crop was unlikely to pose an increased risk of plant pests compared to other cultivated tomatoes.
Purple tomatoes are no longer subject to regulations restricting the “Movement of Genetically Engineered or Modified Organisms”.
According to a USDA report, purple tomatoes can be safely grown and used for nurseries in the United States.
Norfolk Plant Science notes that USDA regulations mean US home growers should be able to purchase seeds and grow nutrient-enhanced anthocyanin-rich purple tomatoes starting in the spring of 2023.
The next step from Norfolk Plant Sciences is obtaining FDA approval for commercial release.
“The bitter thing is that tomatoes will be sold in the US and not in the UK either,” the John Innes Center said.
“We are also looking forward to a sensitive regulatory framework for such a product in the UK and effective methods to protect our key crops from disease, using genetics rather than chemistry,” said Professor Jonathan Jones of the Sainsbury Laboratory.
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