Tropic's non-browning bananas clear first UK regulatory hurdle — SkimNews
Get the Health newsletter
Daily health & science — research, biotech, public health, the studies worth knowing. Free.
- Tropic used Crispr-Cas9 to silence the polyphenol oxidase gene across all three copies in the banana, extending post-peel freshness by a day or two (longer if chilled) without altering taste or texture.
- Defra approved a marketing notice last week confirming the bananas' precision-bred status — one of two regulatory requirements — but an FSA safety review still stands between the fruit and UK shelves, with Prof Cathie Martin of the John Innes Centre noting the timeline is unclear.
- Prof Cathie Martin of the John Innes Centre noted that no precision-bred organism has yet been granted full market authorisation for sale in England, meaning the FSA review is effectively a first-of-its-kind decision for gene-edited food.
- Tropic projects the non-browning bananas could cut supply-chain food waste and CO2-equivalent emissions by more than 25%, equating to over 9m tonnes of CO2 saved annually in the banana export market alone.
- A government study found UK consumers throw away 1.4m edible bananas daily, with 30% of consumers saying they discard bananas because of a minor bruise or black mark.
- Tropic has already secured regulatory approval for the bananas in 10 other countries — including Japan, Brazil and the Philippines — with the fruit being grown commercially in Latin America.
Why it matters: The FSA review is the final gatekeeper for the first precision-bred food to reach English shelves, unlocking a pipeline that includes sweeter strawberries, disease-resistant crops and vitamin-D tomatoes already in development. If cleared, Tropic projects the bananas alone could cut supply-chain CO2-equivalent emissions by over 25%, equating to more than 9m tonnes saved annually in the global banana export market.
Ask SkimNews
