U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
FDA Consumer: September 1994
First Biotech Tomato Marketed
A tomato developed through biotechnology was declared by FDA last May
to be as safe as tomatoes bred by conventional means. This was the first
time the agency had evaluated a whole food produced by biotechnology,
techniques that allow scientists to modify the genetic material of living
things. The tomato is being marketed under the name FLAVR SAVR. The
manufacturer, Calgene, Inc., of Davis, Calif., says FLAVR SAVR
tomatoes are bred to stay firm after harvest and so may remain on the vine
longer to ripen to full flavor So they won't be crushed on the way to
market, other tomato varieties must be harvested while they are green and
firm. After shipment, processors induce ripening by treating the tomatoes
with ethylene gas, the natural ripening agent in tomatoes.
The company has been working with FDA for several years developing new
products through biotechnology, and asked FDA to review FLAVR SAVR
in August 1991. After evaluating the data submitted by Calgene, FDA
scientists concluded that the FLAVR SAVR tomato has not been
significantly altered and is as safe to eat as other tomatoes. This assessment
was supported by the agency's Food Advisory Committee, a panel of
experts from outside FDA. Since the FLAVR SAVR tomato maintains the
essential characteristics of traditionally developed tomatoes, FDA will not
require special labeling. However, Calgene said it plans to provide
point-of-sale information for consumers about the development of the new
product through genetic engineering.
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