The tomato has been a symbol for genetically modified food for many years.
In 1994, genetically modified tomatoes hit the market in the US as the first commercially available genetically modified crop. GM tomatoes have since disappeared.
This transgenic tomato (FlavrSavr) had a “deactivated” gene. This meant that the tomato plant was no longer able to produce polygalacturonase, an enzyme involved in fruit softening. The premise was that tomatoes could be left to ripen on the vine and still have a long shelf life, thus allowing them to develop their full flavour. Normally, tomatoes are picked well before they are ripe and are then ripened artificially.
These GM tomatoes, however, did not meet their expectations. Although they were approved in the US and several other countries, tomatoes with delayed ripening have disappeared from the market after peaking in 1998.
If you cannot recognize GMO tomatoes , we are going to show you a simple
way that will help you recognize these tomatoes and know what you eat.
Some consumers may not be concerned by the fact that they eat
‘frankenfood’, but those who do care can now determine whether the fruit
and the vegetables they buy are genetically modified.
Fruits and vegetables that have been grown in the usual way (with an injection of chemicals) have tags with a code that consists of four digits.
Organically grown fruits and vegetables have price tags with a code that consists of five digits, starting with the number 9. Genetically modified (GM) fruits and vegetables have price tags with a code that consists of five digits starting with the number 8. These tips are pretty important, considering the fact that at the moment, more than 80 percent of the processed food in the USA is genetically modified. In many European countries, the production and selling of GMO products is banned. These countries include Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Luxemburg.
