"Upstart" tomatoes for stiff upper-lips

Genetically engineered food produced from crops which will not rot will now be savoured by the British. Zeneca Group Plc has just received a green signal from the UK to launch cans of genetically-processed tomato paste in the market. British consumers are familiar with genetically modified yeasts and enzymes used for baking and brewing. Zeneca has entered into an agreement with the US-based Calgene Inc, which has flooded North America with processed Flavr Savr tomatoes. Zeneca has the rights to exploit the polygalacturonase gene in the "genetic" tomatoes.

The first crop of tomatoes will be cultivated and processed in California. The UK government's Food Advisory Committee will meet presently to deliberate on the labelling requirements of the new product.