[Editor’s note: Layla Katiraee is a scientist with a PhD in Molecular Genetics.]
A couple of months ago, I saw an article about a new “pink pineapple” that was being approved by the FDA and was a GMO.
The pineapple was developed by Del Monte Fresh Produce. The company plans to label it as “extra sweet pink flesh pineapple” and it will be grown in Costa Rica.
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The patent on the pineapple, which was published in 2013, claims “Carotenoids may contribute fundamentally to human health and in recent years there has been considerable interest in dietary carotenoids with respect to their potential in alleviating age-related diseases in humans.”
However, there’s little evidence supporting this. The CDC states,”research studies have shown inconsistencies in the relation between carotenoid intake and protection from cancer.” Regarding antioxidants, multiple studies have been conducted using dietary supplements and the NIH summarizes these findings by stating that “antioxidant supplements did not help to prevent disease.”
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If I were to guess, I’d say that the company started working on this pineapple about 10 years ago when the antioxidant craze was at its peak. But 10 years later, that craze has fizzled away. I think the company has a pink pineapple that’s visually beautiful, but has no real health benefit.
The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: A GMO pineapple with a blush
