Gene-Altered Superfruits Set to Hit UK Supermarkets in 2026

British consumers could soon find gene-edited fruits with longer shelf lives and added health benefits on supermarket shelves, as new legislation moves closer to approval.

Expected products include strawberries that stay fresh for up to a month, bananas that resist browning, and tomatoes enriched with Vitamin D. Scientists say these innovations will help reduce food waste, improve flavour, and lower the environmental impact of food production.

Unlike older methods of genetic modification, which involved transferring genes between species, the latest gene-editing techniques allow changes to be made within a plant’s existing DNA – a development considered more natural and targeted by scientists.

The UK government is progressing legislation that would allow the sale of these gene-edited foods. The bill has already passed through the House of Commons and is due for its final reading in the House of Lords this week.

Several biotech companies are already preparing to bring their products to market. UK-based Tropic has developed a banana that resists bruising and browning, while US firm Simplot is behind a long-life strawberry. Both are eyeing the UK as a key market.

Although genetically modified foods have previously met with public scepticism in the UK, increasing concerns over food waste, rising costs, and global food security are driving renewed interest in gene-editing technologies.

This article is based on reporting by Rose Morelli for LBC.