The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a genetically modified apple designed to resist browning when bruised or sliced. The new apples are developed by the Canadian bio-tech company Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. and will be found in stores as Arctic Granny and Arctic Golden. Arctic apples will first be available in late 2016 in small quantities and will be identical to their conventional counterparts according to the Canadian producer, but critics call them a “big experiment on humans”, notes The Guardian.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) petitioned the USDA to deny approval, saying that genetic changes like the ones that prevent browning could be harmful to human health. Also, the association points that pesticide levels on the fruits could be excessive. While the U.S. government says the apples are “unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agriculture” and are “not likely to have a significant impact on the human environment”, science, environmental and consumer groups have expressed their concerns about consequences for insects, animals and humans. Also, critics questioned whether the browning-resistance quality of these apples will mask the ones that are no longer fresh.
The genetically modified apples will not be found in large quantities because it takes several years for a tree to produce enough of them. Until then, the Canadian company said it is working on developing other browning-resistant varieties, apparently a new trend after the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently approved commercial planting of a bruising-resistant potato. The new development might help the sales of sliced apples, as the browning-resistant varieties are desirable for use in salads and in the manufacturing of juice.
Even though a majority of Americans want to know if their products contain genetically modified organisms and organic farmers fear the engineered seeds could spread, genetically-modified foods are already mainstream. Last year, a study found that products from cereals to baby formulas contained some ingredients with manipulated DNA.