Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved several varieties of genetically engineered potatoes of the Simplot Innate for sale.

The department concluded that the changes made to these genetically engineered potato varieties do not pose a greater risk to human health than potato varieties currently available on the Canadian market.

In addition, Health Canada also concluded that these Simplot Innate potato varieties would have no impact on allergies, and that there are no differences in the nutritional value of these potatoes compared to other traditional potato varieties available for consumption.

On the same day, the CFIA approved the Innate varieties for use as animal feed. The Simplot Innate potatoes are resistant to browning and bruising, therefore reducing the amount of potatoes consumers throw away, and also have a lower level of asparagine, an amino acid which produces acrylamide.

A second generation of the Innate potatoes that Simplot seeks approval for will be resistant to blight, a potato disease, therefore reducing the need for pesticides to prevent this disease. The approval decisions for the Innate potato varieties have arrived too late for the current growing season. It is expected that Canadian producers will be able to plant these varieties during the 2017 season. As per Canada’s policy with respect to novel foods or feed, the Innate potato varieties are subject to the same commercialization and import requirements as unmodified potato varieties, including requirements emerging from the Feeds Act and Regulations and the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. 

Related articles: 

McDonald’s does not plan to use J.R. Simplot’s GMO potatoes

Simplot’s First Generation of Innate Potatoes Receives Canadian Government Clearance

Simplot’s second generation of Innate potatoes receives FDA safety clearance