Go Ahead, Take a Bite: New GMO Apples Are Perfectly Safe

There is perhaps no more iconic food than the apple. Think about it; from the Garden of Eden to the logo on the smart phone you might be holding in your hand right now, the apple claims a special place in the arc of modern civilization. It's both a forbidden fruit and the main ingredient in our all-American dessert. We cried when Snow White ate the poisoned version but eating one a day can keep the doctor away. It's the name of a body part and the nickname of America's biggest city. Heck, Gwyneth even named her daughter Apple. So, could an apple now symbolize a major turning point in the public's acceptance of GMOs (genetically modified organisms)? We hope so. The recently USDA-approved Arctic apple isn't trying to change the world. It's not trying to save eyesight or reduce pesticides like other GMOs. It just wants to be less...yucky. We all know that when you slice an apple and let it sit for a few minutes, it starts to turn brown. It isn't rotting and tastes fine but it starts to look less appetizing after a short time. The browning is the harmless result of an enzyme meeting oxygen. No big deal. But tell that to the people who are unfamiliar with the concept of "check your privilege" such as American kids who are notoriously picky eaters or those adults who toss food the moment it looks a little faded. Now imagine being able to shut down the internal process that causes the unappetizing change. It doesn't affect the taste, texture, or nutritional value of the apple...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news