FDA Approves Genetically Modified Potatoes, Apples as Safe for Sale in market

FDA Approves Genetically Modified Potatoes, Apples as Safe for Sale in market

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday approved the genetically engineered foods, saying they are "as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts."

The FDA said that it didn’t think the Arctic apple or the innate potato posed a risk to human health.

The approval covers six varieties of potatoes by Boise, Idaho-based J. R. Simplot Co. and two varieties of apples from the Canadian company Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc.

The FDA approved two GMO varietals of Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apples, which are both known by their trade name, Arctic Apples.
Developed by Okanagan of British Columbia, Canada, the apples reduce the level of enzymes that trigger browning after being cut.

The FDA also approved three biotech varietals of potatoes, Ranger Russet, Russet Burbank and Atlantic, which all go by the trade name Innate potatoes.

The so-called Arctic apple, developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. in Canada, has been designed to resist browning when cut open or sliced.

The Innate potato is designed to have fewer black spots from bruising and produce lower levels of acrylamide, a potential carcinogen that forms in potatoes when cooked at high temperatures.

Innate potato could be introduced in the next few months in market for consumption and Arctic apple will be introduced in market in one or two years.

Okanagan plans to market two varieties of apples, the Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden, which are new versions of the Granny Smith and Golden Delicious apple.

As per media reports McDonald’s, a longtime buyer of J.R. Simplot potatoes, has said it doesn’t plan to use genetically modified potatoes.

Gregory Jaffe, director of biotechnology for the Center for Science in the Public Interest told to media that “No regulatory process should have to rely on the voluntary acquiescence by the regulated party,” “Congress should pass legislation that requires new biotech crops to undergo a rigorous and mandatory approval process before foods made from those crops reach the marketplace.  Such a system would give consumers much greater confidence that all genetically engineered products have been independently reviewed and found to be safe.”


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Saturday, March 21, 2015

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