Gene-Edited Bananas Could Soon Reach UK Supermarkets

Bananas that have been gene-edited to stay yellow for longer could become available in UK supermarkets after receiving approval as precision-bred food.

The bananas were developed by Norwich-based biotechnology company Tropic Biosciences using CRISPR technology. The modification reduces the activity of an enzyme responsible for the fruit turning brown after it is cut or damaged.

Bananas That Stay Fresh-Looking Longer

The modified bananas can maintain their yellow appearance for longer than conventional bananas. Researchers say the change could help reduce food discarded because of cosmetic deterioration.

The fruit can reportedly remain yellow for up to an additional day or two, particularly when kept chilled.

Aiming to Reduce Food Waste

Bananas are among the fruits that can be thrown away even when they are still suitable to eat because their skin or flesh has started to brown.

Tropic Biosciences says its technology could help reduce food waste and make bananas easier to transport and store.

Different From Traditional GM Foods

The bananas were developed using precision breeding, which changes the plant’s existing genetic material rather than introducing genetic material from another species.

UK authorities have already recognized the fruit as a precision-bred organism. The bananas still require a safety assessment by the Food Standards Agency before they can be sold to consumers.

When Could Shoppers See Them?

The company hopes the bananas can eventually reach British supermarkets once the remaining regulatory process is completed.

The development is part of a wider effort by researchers and food companies to use gene-editing technology to make crops last longer and reduce losses during production and distribution.

A Different Approach to Food Waste

If approved for sale, the bananas would give shoppers a familiar food with a small but noticeable difference: they would remain yellow for longer after being cut or damaged.

The technology could also demonstrate how precision breeding may be used to address practical problems in the food supply chain.

Sources

• The Guardian — “Gene-edited bananas that don’t go brown could hit UK supermarkets” — September 28, 2026.
• Tropic Biosciences — Information about its precision-bred non-browning banana technology.
• UK Food Standards Agency — Regulatory review information cited in reports on the product.