Canada approves Arctic Fuji apple
Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ (OSF) third nonbrowning Arctic apple variety, Arctic Fuji, has been approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada (HC).
Okanagan Specialty Fruits’ (OSF) third nonbrowning Arctic apple variety, Arctic Fuji, has been approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada (HC). The CFIA and HC announced that the Arctic Fuji variety “did not pose a greater risk to human health than apples currently available on the Canadian market.” Arctic apples have been genetically modified to “turn off” the enzyme in apples responsible for browning.
In addition, Health Canada also concluded that the Arctic Fuji apple would have no impact on allergies, and that there are no differences in the nutritional value of it compared to other traditional apple varieties available for consumption. Arctic Fuji trees will join the growing commercial orchards of Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny apples in spring 2018.
The announcement follows approval by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Animal (USDA) and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) of the Arctic Fuji variety, which was granted September 23, 2016.