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Answers

Question

Is there a GMO pineapple?

Submitted by: Marisa Akiona


Answer

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Wednesday, 11/08/2017 18:27

You may have heard about “pink pineapples” (made by Del Monte Fresh Produce) and this article from last year explains more about them and the details/review process surrounding them.

 

“(Del Monte’s) new pineapple has been genetically engineered to produce lower levels of the enzymes already in conventional pineapple that convert the pink pigment lycopene to the yellow pigment beta carotene. Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed. The pineapple will be grown in Costa Rica. The company will label it ‘extra sweet pink flesh pineapple.’”

 

However, there is currently no GM pineapple commercially available on the market. There are only nine GM crops commercially available today: sweet and field corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, rainbow papaya, potato and summer squash. GM apples are approved and coming to market soon. The chart below provides additional information about the nine GMO crops commercially available today: