FDA Approves Second Generation Innate® Potatoes

The United Stated Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed its food and feed safety assessment of the second generation of J.R. Simplot's Innate® potatoes. The FDA concluded that the Russet Burbank Generation 2 potatoes are not materially different in composition, safety, and other relevant parameters, from any other potato or potato-derived food or feed currently on the market.

The second generation of Innate potatoes contains four benefits to potato growers, processors, and consumers: reduced bruising and black spots; reduced asparagine; resistance to late blight pathogens; and enhanced cold storage capability. These benefits were achieved by adapting genes from wild and cultivated potatoes.

The safety consultation was voluntarily requested by Simplot and comes shortly after the U.S. Department of Agriculture also deregulated the same potatoes. These federal clearances involved a thorough technical review and a public comment period that drew the support of leading potato research universities in the U.S. and Europe.

For more, read the news article on Simplot's website.