Bananas that don’t go brown to hit supermarkets thanks to DNA editing

Key Points:

• A gene-edited banana variety that resists browning and extends shelf-life has reached the final approval stage for sale in England, developed by UK company Tropic Biosciences using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to disable the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme responsible for browning.
• The Environment Secretary has approved a marketing notice for these bananas, which could reduce waste by preventing browning that accounts for around 20% of banana yield losses, benefiting both farmers and consumers.
• Gene-edited crops, including these bananas, are regulated under the Precision Breeding Act 2022, allowing small, specific DNA changes without introducing genes from other species, distinguishing them from traditional genetic modification.
• The Food Standards Agency (FSA) must still conduct food safety checks before the bananas can be sold, but once approved, they will not require labeling as gene-edited, reflecting expert views that these products are fundamentally similar to conventional crops.
• Gene-edited foods will initially only be available in England, as devolved administrations remain cautious about their safety, while other gene-edited crops like disease-resistant potatoes and vitamin D-rich tomatoes have also been approved by Defra.