Are GMO Purple Tomatoes Actually Healthy?

Tomatoes have been prized for a long time for their high levels of antioxidants such as flavanoids and lycopene. Now, a new genetically modified tomato has proven to be even healthier due to an infusion of an extra antioxidant. The new tomato is purple in color and has been enriched with genes from the snapdragon flower, which caused it to create anthocyanin, an antioxidant known for its cancer-fighting qualities.

The following article shares important information about the genetically modified tomato and the study that used these tomatoes. The study discussed found that a diet rich in anthocyanin-enhanced purple tomatoes made mice live up to 30 percent longer than mice fed no tomatoes or regular tomatoes. While the tomatoes have not been studied on humans yet, the article documents this resesrch as one of the first studies suggesting that metabolic engineering can be useful for reducing disease and increasing health. Is it really possible that genetically modified foods are good for the consumer?


Purple Tomatoes May Be the Answer to a Healthy, Long Life