Meet the purple tomato which has more antioxidants than normal

It has received regulatory approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and may soon be on grocery store shelves.

Purple tomato? Yes, it exists! And it is the result of genetic modifications. Its purple color makes it rich in antioxidants and gives it about 10 times more anthocyanins than a normal tomato. For this reason, the product is considered a superfoodwith benefits for human health and which helps in longevity.

This distinctive tomato was developed by scientist Cathie Martin. And it took nearly 15 years before the product was approved in the US. “This is great,” said the scientist in a statement on the decision. “I never thought I’d see this day. Now we are one step closer to my dream of sharing healthy purple tomatoes with many people eager to eat them.”

The fight was tough, but the The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved the genetically modified tomatowhich became the first genetically modified product grown on US soil to receive this type of certification.

This approval paved the way for the fruit to be sold soon in North American stores and supermarkets.

Cathie Martin and other Norfolk Plant Scientists (NPS) did experiments with pigments in plants for over 20 yearsfocusing on anthocyanins, the antioxidant-rich pigments that give blackberries and blueberries their purplish hues.

According to a study published in the scientific journal Biotechnology of naturemice whose diet was supplemented with purple tomato lived about 30% longer compared to those on a normal diet. This is largely due to anthocyanins, which have been linked to protection against many human diseases.

With this approval, Norfolk Plant Science intends to sell the seeds to farmers, who can then ship the fruit to markets. For now, sales will only be made in the United States., with no plans to sell to the rest of the world, but who knows, in the future we may not see purple tomatoes sold at trade shows here in Brazil. You can also imagine a purple tomato sauce or purple ketchup.

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Source: Terra

Benjamin

Benjamin Smith is a fashion journalist and author at Gossipify, known for his coverage of the latest fashion trends and industry insights. He writes about clothing, shoes, accessories, and runway shows, providing in-depth analysis and unique perspectives. He’s respected for his ability to spot emerging designers and trends, and for providing practical fashion advice to readers.