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Pink Pineapples...Rosé, or no way?
The truth about those pink pineapples.
Social media obviously has its pros and cons, and when it comes to food there is no exception. Some users have made very positive life changes, but sometimes when things like pink pineapples seem to go viral overnight, I wonder if users have access to food safety information the way that they do to whatever trending treat is becoming the next big thing.
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Not all modified foods are unhealthy, but it is definitely a valuable skill to know how to navigate new foods before they become a health hazard.
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The ponk pineapple is a perfect example. It is a pineapple that has a pink or reddish exterior as well as a fleshy pink interior. It starting drawing attention in 2016 when Del Monte Fresh Produce (DMFP) had a new variety of pineapple approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after about 11 years of research and development.
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New varieties of common foods, like pineapple in this instance, are controversial because they are grown as genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Again, as I mentioned before, this does not mean they are "bad" or unhealthy, but it does warrant an appropriate amount of research before consumption.
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The pink pineapples are typically produced way of genetically engineering the levels of lycopene, the same pigment found in foods like watermelon and tomatoes, of a normal variety pineapple to give the normally yellow or golden fruit a bright red or pink color.
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So. what about the safety of these Rosé shade pineapples? Yea, or no way?
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In December of 2016, the FDS completed its evaluation of the DMFP pineapple with pink flesh, and concluded that there were no unresolved safety concerns, and dubbed it as sage and nutritious to eat as it's yellow counterparts. However, this was in response to a voluntary consultation request and does not equal a formal approval. It does mean that the developers at DMFP are ensuring compliance with safety and are willing to be transparent about their new variety of pink pineapple. DMFP labels this new variety as "extra sweet pink flesh pineapple" and other companies have been interested in following suit and have been advised to consult in a similar manner to DMFP.
If you have any doubts or concerns about how to identify whether new foods are safe or a scam, it is always wise to visit the FDA website to see how and when the company and their product was evaluated. Especially since networks like Instagram have gone global, it is extremely important to be aware of where you are getting your food and what was done to it before it ends up on your plate. While there are lots of healthy substances that haven't been FDA-approved and plenty of unhealthily used substances that are FDA-approved, for the most part the FDA does a good job of addressing trending topics or concerns.
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In essence, yes. You can pineapple rosé all day if you want. However, even if the pineapple with pink flesh was concluded to be safe to consume, it would be wise to know how to navigate new varieties of food before the next food trend hits your feed.
Check out the links under "Other Information" below if you want to learn more...
Other Information
Want more information on genetic enginerring of plants and how the FDA regulates them? Check out the following links to explore the process and understand what it means for you as a consumer.
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