A mix-up over bioengineered tomato seeds sparked fears about spread of GMO crops

[sl8]

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/28/1244374630/gmo-purple-tomato-seeds-baker-creek-controversy

A mix-up over bioengineered tomato seeds sparked fears about spread of GMO crops

APRIL 28, 2024 7:00 AM ET
BSPR News
By Sasa Woodruff



Sara Woodruff

The Purple Galaxy Tomato splashed across the cover of this season's Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog: a closeup of a blackish-purple tomato speckled with tiny pink dots. Next to it, sits a sliced open fruit, revealing deep fuchsia seeds and flesh.

"This beauty is believed to be the first — and the purplest — non-GMO purple tomato in the universe!" read the catalog copy.

Only problem? The seeds actually may have been a GMO variety, the recently released Purple Tomato, created using genes from a snapdragon flower by Norfolk Healthy Produce.

The mix-up has caused consternation for the heirloom seed company that prides itself on offering rare and organic varieties and takes a firm stance against GMO crops. And it's triggered debate about biodiversity and what can happen with GMO seeds when they begin to spread.

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[MiHale]

1. My wife got the catalog...

Beautiful pic of awesome looking fruit..was gonna grow them this year. ‘Was’ being the working word.

oh well.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Studies have shown that GMO vegetables and crops like wheat are less nutritious than heritage varieties.

The US has some of the poorest nutrition in the world, much of it self imposed. Products modified to grow with Roundup and be less nutritious aren’t helping. Nor does putting sugar in every product possible. I’ve had to stop buying boxed soups like butternut squash and tomato soup because they’re far too sweet for my taste buds. Most cereals, especially for kids, are as sweet as dessert.

[getagrip_already]

3. Studies have shown that studies have serious flaws...

Seriously, I know the whole gmo thing is a political hand grenade, but it really has little to do with your argument.

If you enjoy heritage varieties, great. But unless you are a food scientist comparing a to b, your statement really means little in the grand scheme of the original post.

The original post was a story about how easily gmo traits are finding their way into the food chain. There will soon come a time when most if not all commercial foods contain gmo genes to some extent just through cross contamination.

Nature doesn't know or care about the difference.

Whether you think that's bad or just meh is up to your politics and beliefs. But the genie is out of the bottle.