Health & Nutrition

Genetic Modification

• No tomatoes are grown or marketed by British Growers from genetically modified (GM) plants.

• All varieties grown in Britain have been produced by traditional breeding methods.

• British growers aim to completely eliminate the use of pesticides in the near future. No herbicides are used on British tomato crops, so genetic modification to produce herbicide resistant tomato plants is of no advantage to us.

• Practically all British tomatoes are grown in glasshouses, where the tomato flowers are pollinated by bumble bees and other beneficial insects are introduced to control pest naturally.

• The major benefit in reducing pesticide application by the use of GM tomatoes would be in crops grown in other parts of the world, particularly outdoor, field-grown crops.

• A proposed benefit of genetically modified tomatoes could be in producing long-life, non-perishable fruit. This may be an attractive quality for overseas growers but not an issue for British growers. British tomatoes ripen on the plant, for optimum flavour and texture, and arrive in the shops in prime condition.

• Another proposed benefit of GM tomatoes would be to produce fruit with a higher nutrient content. This is an interesting option, but it is possible to do this by conventional means, such as the choice of variety and by harvesting and eating fruit when fully ripe. GM tomatoes have been produced with higher levels of betacarotene, a potential advantage, but they may contain lower levels of lycopene, a distinct disadvantage. The best advice is to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables with a range of complimentary beneficial ingredients. Having said that, tomatoes probably contain a wider range of these constituents than any other fresh food.

• The Tomato Growers' Association believes that decisions as important as the use of genetically modified material in foods should be made by society in general, not by producers. Consumers should be able to make informed choices on these matters.

• British tomato growers urge consumers to look for the British logo on packs and boxes.