Purple Tomato – Del/Ros1-N event
In 2024, Health Canada received a submission to allow the sale of a genetically modified (GM) tomato variety referred to as Purple Tomato – Del/Ros1-N event.
In order to determine whether this GM tomato variety could be sold in Canada as food, the scientists at Health Canada conducted a scientific assessment that ensured this variety is safe for consumption. Our scientists also needed to assess how this GM tomato variety was developed and whether it can be toxic or cause allergic reactions.
The safety of the Purple Tomato for food use was assessed as part of the Health Canada-Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) shared assessment process. For this product, Health Canada was the primary assessor and conducted the safety assessment of this tomato line. FSANZ acted as the secondary assessor, peer-reviewing Health Canada's initial assessment report for the Purple Tomato and providing feedback regarding the report.
Scientists with expertise in molecular biology, microbiology, toxicology, chemistry, and nutrition conducted a thorough analysis of the data and the protocols provided by the applicant to ensure the validity of the results.
Following this assessment, it was determined that the changes made to this GM tomato variety do not pose a greater risk to human health than tomato varieties currently available on the Canadian market. In addition, Health Canada also concluded that this GM tomato variety would have no impact on allergies, and that there are no other differences in the nutritional value of this GM tomato variety compared to other traditional tomato varieties available for consumption.
Health Canada's assessment of foods derived from Purple Tomato was conducted according to the Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods. The approach taken by Health Canada in the safety assessment of novel foods is based upon scientific principles developed through expert international consultation over the last 20 years with agencies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The approach taken by Canada is currently applied by regulatory agencies around the world in countries such as the European Union, Australia/New Zealand, Japan, and the United States.