GMO

Non-Browning GMO Apples Developed

One of the challenges that people face with apples is that it easily turns brown when sliced, making them look unsuitable to eat for some people. Well in seems that looks does matter in such instances and having an apple that does not turn brown even when sliced would surely make the day for many people. Fortunately, there’s a company that is developing such an apple that may someday find its way into the neighborhood fruit stand.

A company called Okanagan Specialty Fruits has introduced the genetically modified fruit called the Arctic Apple. This genetically engineered apple is designed not to turn brown and remain crisp longer. The GMO apple contains a synthetic gene that sharply reduces the production of polyphenol oxidase, the enzyme that is known to cause browning in apples. The new GMO apple is eyed to help increase apple sales by delaying the effects of oxidation on the fruit longer. While this may provide certain benefits for apple sellers, the general apple industry is seeing it in a different way.

The Arctic Apple may be an apple that never browns when cut or exposed to the air for too long. But there is just something that gets into people when genetic engineering of food is involved. It seems that people are still not that comfortable having genetically modified foods into their table, at least not something that they have direct knowledge of. While most Americans have been eating genetically modified foods in one way or another from the different processed food products found in the supermarket aisles since the 90’s, the Arctic Apple may be one of the first genetically engineered fruits that people may actually directly eat.

And what’s more, this prevailing mentality about natural apple may not convince the general apple industry to adopt the new GMO apple quite readily. The US Apple Association, which represents the American apple industry, is strongly opposed to the product being introduced in the market. They believe that it may harm the image of the apple as a natural health food that keeps the doctor away.

Currently, the Arctic Apple is applying for regulatory approval in both the US and Canada.

Source: Huffington Post
Genetic Modification – GuideTo.Com

Tags: Apples, Developed, NonBrowning