US approves Canadian GMO apples for commercial debut

The US Department of Agriculture has approved the commercialization of the first genetically modified apples despite efforts by GMO critics and the organic food industry to block the fruit.

 

Aphis, the USDA’s animal and plant health authority, approved two GMO apple varieties developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, a Canadian company.

 

Okanagan plans to market the apples as “Arctic Granny” and “Arctic Golden.” Both varieties have been modified so that they still look fresh even after being sliced or bruised.

 

Neal Carter, president of Okanagan, said that the USDA approval was a “monumental occasion.”

 

“It is the biggest milestone yet for us and we can’t wait until they’re available for consumers,” Carter said.

 

But the news of the approval of the apples hasn’t been met with complete acceptance. The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) petitioned the USDA to deny approval, saying that the genetic changes could be harmful to humans and that pesticide levels on the apples could be excessive.

 

OCA Director Ronnie Cummins said that they’re planning on pressuring food companies and retail outlets to not carry the fruit. “This whole thing is just another big experiment on humans for no good reason,” he said.

 

According to US law, the USDA is only allowed to decide on the basis of its analysis of the plant pest risk to agriculture or other plants in the US. The Food and Drug Administration is looking at the GMO apples through a voluntary consultation with Okanagan. The FDA has no mandatory review process for GMO food.

 

Doug Gurian-Sherman, a plant pathologist and senior scientist at the Centre for Food Safety non-profit organization, said, “We think there are some possible risks that were not adequately considered.” The Centre for Food Safety is just one of several groups that worry about the possible unintended negative effects of genetic changes.

 

On the other hand, Okanagan released a statement where it said that that their apples were “likely the most tested apples on the planet.”

 

The apples will be available during the latter part of 2016 but won’t be widely distributed for some years.  — Bea Montenegro/ELR/TJD, GMA News