Dive Brief:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Friday authorized a genetically modified potato for commercial planting.
- The potato, manufactured by the J.R. Simplot Company in Boise, ID, has been configured to emit less of acrylamide - a chemical potentially carcinogenic to humans - when the potato is exposed to high temperatures in the process of making French fries and potato chips.
- Other crops in the United States have gotten GE approval, including corn, soybeans, sugar beets, and more, according to The New York Times.
Dive Insight:
This news comes off the heels of some GMO decisions this election cycle. Time will tell if these potatoes will gain any traction - another GE potato didn't fare so well in the 1990s.