Tuesday, November 04, 2008

BRITISH SCIENTISTS CREATE PURPLE CANCER FIGHTING TOMATOES


I’ve always loved tomatoes and was quite excited to hear that British scientists have created a genetically modified purple tomato that will help in the fight against cancer. Good news for all of us! The purple super tomato contains anthocyanins, antioxidants found in blueberries and blackcurrants that give them their distinctive purple colour. The unusual looking fruit, which was created by genetically combining a normal tomato with genes from a snap dragon flower, has been shown to extend the lives of cancer prone mice. In addition researchers have discovered that the anthocyanins contained in the tomatoes are thought to protect against heart disease and degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

Scientists stated that the purple tomatoes could be on sale within the next 3 years. However the bad news is that it’s unlikely they will be sold in England due to strict European regulations governing genetically modified foods. Instead the purple tomatoes are likely to make their debut in India, China and the U.S. which are all counties with more relaxed regulations. Things are changing so fast, let’s hope the regulations will have relaxed a bit more by then to allow foods like this with health giving properties to be sold in Britain as well as other countries of the world. The new tomatoes will certainly brighten up a salad with their distinctive purple colour and help us all to live longer too! Can't wait to try them!

5 comments:

Jackie said...

LOL wouldn't it be easier for people to just eat more berries, eggplant, red grapes and wine?

But there again they will probably be aimed at the burger eaters who generally only have veggies like one slice of tomato and chips.

I will stick to my organic tomatoes.

Rick Rockhill said...

I eat 2 tomatoes everyday for health.

Rosemary said...

Hubby and I are on a diet high in anti-oxidants, eating lots of spinach salads with broccoli, etc. Both of us have GERD and are not supposed to eat tomatoes, but I'll be glad to add a little of the purple tomato to my salad when they become available.

This is genetic engineering at it's best. Not sure I understand the ban in England for modified foods. Have there been foods that were modified in a way to make them dangerous??

Anonymous said...

i can' agree with your wish that GM food regs are relaxed soon.

Gm food is bad news for everyone.

Have you watched "The World According to Monsanto"?

GM is a genie that we can not put back into the bottle once it becomes widespread.

Our generation, meddling with nature in such a fundelmental way, has no right to endager the future of humanity.

We can't just accept everything that scientists come up with as being good for us.

Naomi said...

I agree Jackie but unfortunately many people don't eat as healthily as this!

They are full of Lycopene and really good for you Rick!

Yes it is genetic engineering at its best Rosemary. Unfortunately I think the ban has been put in to protect us from some things that may not be so good for us.

Well you're entitled to your opinion Kate. I do agree that there are some GM foods that probably should be banned but others like the purple tomatoes, I personally believe would be good for us. Unfortunately there seems to be this grey area at the moment as to what is good and bad for us all. Thanks for stopping by.