The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) favorably reviewed genetically engineered purple tomatoes, developed by Norfolk Plant Sciences.

The USDA found the genetically engineered (GE) plant is “unlikely to pose an increased plant pest risk compared to other cultivated tomatoes and is not subject to regulation …”

This says nothing of GE purple tomatoes’ potential to wreak havoc on human health but moves the plants one step closer to reaching your grocery store.

The genetically modi ed (GMO) purple tomatoes were engineered to be rich in anthocyanins, the pigments that give blueberries, blackberries and certain other deeply-hued produce their color.

Scientists used two transcription factors from snapdragon plants to increase anthocyanins in tomatoes.

Considering there are already anthocyanin-rich foods found in nature, it’s unnecessary, and potentially dangerous, to genetically engineer one using a tomato infused with snapdragon genes.