Famous Death Row Last Meals
Food Fights: The Biggest Culinary Scandals Of 2011
Getty Images
Are rotten tomatoes going to be a thing of the past?
Scientists in India said they have created genetically modified tomatoes that will stay fresh a full month longer than regular tomatoes, Sky News reported.
Researchers said they modified the tomatoes by manipulating two enzymes involved in ripening the ubiquitous fruit, which allows them to extend shelf life by 30 days.
"Our strategy allows the achievement of desired texture and firmness and enhancement of shelf life without any ill effects," Dr. Asis Datta of the National Institute of Plant Genome Research in New Delhi told Sky News.
"This strategy can be extended to other fruit crops," Dr. Datta said.
Researchers said the techniques could be used to extend the shelf life of bananas and mangoes, two other fruits that can ripen and go bad quickly.
Some, however, are skeptical of the safety of genetically modified foods.
"The majority of the public are very skeptical about the benefits of GM foods and I don't think that this will do anything to persuade them," Pete Riley, from the U.K. campaign group GM Freeze, told the Daily Mail. "We have survived for millennia without needing to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables."
Riley said that while the tomatoes may appear to be fresher longer, their vitamin content could decline, leaving them less nutritious than normal tomatoes.
India, the world's second-largest tomato grower, loses 35 to 40 percent of its crop to rotting before the product hits store shelves, Sky News reported.
[via Sky News]
16 Grammys Looks That Weren't Working
Whitney Houston Dead: Singer Dies at 48, Body Found in Beverly Hilton Hotel
PHOTOS: Best And Worst Of Grammy Dresses
Whitney Houston Autopsy: Cause of Death Determined?
Whitney Houston, Bobbi Kristina: Late Singer's Daughter Hospitalized
QUIZ: How Much Do You Know About Marriage In The U.S.?
Whitney Houston Dead: Stars React to Legend's Sudden Death
Grammy Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
Grammy Awards 2012: The Best & Worst Of The Red Carpet!
Grammy 2012 Winners' List: Adele Sweeps Music's Biggest Night
Jennifer Hudson Whitney Tribute: Grammy President Reveals Why Singer Was Chosen for Musical Memorial
PHOTOS: Remembering Whitney Houston's Glittering Style
Katy Perry Grammy Performance 2012: Did the Diva Diss Her Ex-Hubby With Revealing New Song?
5-Hour Energy: A Success Equal Parts Caffeine, Chemistry and Meditation
Mom Had Labor Induced To Let Dying Father See Daughter
People With Easy-To-Pronounce Names More Likely To Succeed, Study Says
How Hattie Lost 300 Pounds: 'I Was Ready To Do Whatever It Took To Survive'
12 Grammys Stars Who Gave Good Style
Matt Bomer Comes Out As Gay
LINSANITY CONTINUES
SLIDESHOW: Scientists On God
Mena Suvari's Beauty Evolution
Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
TV's Best Music Moments
The Top 10 Slacker Colleges
PHOTOS: Thank God For Grown-Up Glamour
PHOTOS: Beautiful Scars
Taylor Swift Does Great Depression Chic
JUNGLE SURVIVAL: Marines Drink Snake Blood, Eat Insects
WATCH: Chainsaw-Wielding Thug Attacks Pub Crawlers
Pastor's Daughter Accidentally Shot At Church
2-03-2010 @2:19PM ESC said... Yes, but how do they TASTE???
Reply
2-03-2010 @2:24PM Daniel F. said... I doubt that many among the world's starving population will lament vitamin loss in food that they actually get to eat.
Reply
2-04-2010 @12:25PM Adelia said... You think genetically modified food will help starving people? Bio tech companies make GMO's so they can make more money pure and simple. Just look at the US. Monsanto makes Roundup ready corn--> farmers overproduce it--> the price drops so farmers can't support themselves-- they get welfare (of course they call it subsidies)
Meanwhile the American people are fatter than they've ever been, because cheap food is crappy food.
All the while Monsanto is making billions, and the billions of hungry people in the world are still hungry.
2-03-2010 @3:12PM Free the Tomato said... "desired texture and firmness" So I guess that means they are hard as rocks, crunchy and can survive a fall off a skyscraper. Who hasn't chipped a tooth on today's bullet-proof tomatoes?
But agree with Daniel...if they can stop 45% of their crop from rotting, that's something worth doing.
And before Chicken Little blabbers about vitamins, he should test them. It's such a knee-jerk reaction.
Reply
2-04-2010 @9:44AM lalise giarrusso said... would love to try to grow them in my gaden
Reply
2-04-2010 @7:48AM Alice said... My husband and I start seeds in early April more or less as a hobby but we sell the plants to a local hardware store who then resells them for their profit. We grow a tomatoe called a "Mortgage Lifter" which was developed in the early 1900's by a farmer who grew and sold them to pay off his mortgage. Most of our tomatoes are "Rutgers" which is a medium well rounded fruit whereas the Mortgage Lifters are huge with a pinkish tint.
Reply
2-04-2010 @8:34AM Alberto said... Yes Alice, I grow also the Mortgage lifter since it is so big and tasty and my wife makes good sauces from them which we then preserve by canning. I think everyone should grow a garden and experience how the people of olden times managed to survive. In fact, it may be necessary to soon grow your food since your president Obama is slowly destroying America which will surely go into a depression if you do not fight back
2-04-2010 @8:19AM John Maltese said... Some day they will tinker with a few enzymes and the result with a lovely 60 day old tomates and billions of dead people or maybe even human extinction, or perhaps its already started with the birds and lake fish and so many more "super virus's". But won't those tomatoes look lovely!!! We already ready produce enought food to feed the world, the problem is corruption, greed and human nature...So maybe a super tomato isn't such a bad idea
Reply
2-04-2010 @11:10AM arthur lee davis said... AMEN ! TO THAT MOUTH FULL . . .
2-04-2010 @8:34AM Lars said... if you eat enough of those tomatos they won't need to embalm you when you die
Reply
2-04-2010 @8:45AM JayQue said... Hmmmm...let me see if I read this correctly..."achievement of desired texture and firmness and enhancement ..." Are we talking Viagra for Veggies?
Reply
2-04-2010 @9:12AM jason said... Wow thats great ,...now we can go to Mars with fresh veggies yayyyyyyyyy!!
Reply
2-04-2010 @9:15AM me said... about time they get off there ass and do something to feed their people.
Only good tomatoes are grown in INDIANA
Reply
2-04-2010 @9:41AM Maddy's Mom said... You mean New Jersey! World renowned tomatoes grown here in NJ!!
2-04-2010 @9:48AM me said... taste is what i'm talking about. never tryied any from NJ have you had any Indiana ones
2-04-2010 @9:42AM Weiser Academy said... The industry has already modified the tomato to the point that our children are reacting. So many kids are having to avoid ketchup , spaggetti, pizza sauce, and anything with powdered tomato, because of severe physical and behavioral reactions. They are increasing the salicylate content and the allergic reactions of these fruits. Tomatoes have already been altered and modified to contain genes from latex plants, and other modifications to resists disease, pests, make them easier for harvesting large crops, extend transporting and shelf life. The tomato now travels long distance to reach your table and it is actually turning into a health hazard rather than a source of nutrition. Worldwide, all countries will eventually reap the benefits (or the decline) of what they sow. Genetically modifying the food source is not the long term answer we need.
If you are interested in learning more about real nutrient dense nutrition and quality food production, check out the work of the Weston A Price Foundation. This organization is made up of doctors, scientists, nutritionists, farmers, and regular people. They frequently confront the FDA, USDA, the school lunch program, the wic progam, baby formula manufacturing, the farming industry, and much more. They are working hard to educate people for the purpose to improve the quality (not the profits and quantity) of the foods we are consuming and our quality of life. You will find a lot of resources on their website.
http://www.westonaprice.org
http://www.realmilk.com
You can also find books on real nutrition at
http://www.flatrockchristiansupply.com
especially check out the books by Jordan Rubin.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is learn about this and apply your knowledge. It could potentially save your life or someone you love.
Reply
2-04-2010 @10:51AM Ron said... Learn from sources other than those you listed. Sources that have data from actualy scientific research, not some religious mumbo gumbo guru.
2-04-2010 @10:04AM UGHMAN 330 said... GARDEN, GARDEN GARDEN, have garden and expansion is a must wife and I set up a shared garden w/ our married sons the work the harvest and the off season tasks are all shared . our goal is to be able to by pass the produce dept and thier semi tastless veggie wanna be's . will admit storage presents it s own problems . Maybe the Indian tomatoes dont make it because of transportation and shelf life is not the problem
Reply
2-04-2010 @10:02AM crossrabbswitch said... Some comments:
1. Now that the tomatoes were not developed in the US, the world powers will not have a problem with them. Only produce developed by American companies are criticized, there is politics in everything from wheat to tomatoes.
2. The Englishman Riley is an idiot to make a statement that we have survived a 1000 years without the need to extend the shelf life of fruit and vegetables. About 200 years ago the English starved the Irish because of a potato blight, which would not have occurred with better science. Riley making such statements shows the same arrogance as the Brits of the past. Less vitamin is still better than no vitamin.
3. Longer shelf life tomatoes have been around for years. Check a Burpee catalog.
4. Store bought tomatoes are picked green and ripened by a chemical process. That is why they taste terrible. These tomatoes will be probably be worse in flavor.
5. Finally, after you slice a tomato, wash out the seeds and gooey stuff. It's about half of the tomato, but only the meat is good. So, if that means you need more tomatoes, plant about 20 bushes in your garden and prepare yourself for an experience.
Reply
2-04-2010 @10:04AM hi all said... Gandi likes it
Reply