Food giant Del Monte can sell a pineapple genetically engineered to have pink flesh after federal regulators concluded that the fruit presents "no unresolved safety or regulatory questions."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the results of its consultation with Del Monte last week. A consultation, the agency noted, is voluntary and "not synonymous with FDA approval," but Del Monte demonstrated that its modified fruit was "as safe and nutritious as its conventional counterparts."
The modified pineapple produces lower levels of naturally-occurring enzymes that convert lycopene, a pink pigment, into the yellow pigment beta carotene.
"Lycopene is the pigment that makes tomatoes red and watermelons pink, so it is commonly and safely consumed," FDA officials said in a statement.
Del Monte plans to identify the modified pineapple with tags labeling it as "extra sweet pink flesh pineapple." Although the U.S. allows production of certain modified foods, the company does not plan to grow the crop in the U.S. Instead, it is discussing that issue with officials in Costa Rica.
The FDA urged other companies interested in marketing the pink pineapple to consult with the Office of Nutrition and Food Labeling within its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.