UK supermarket chain Tesco has begun selling what are being billed as the world’sfirst non-leaking tomatoes.
The tomatoes, which were developed over the past 13 years by Dutch seed company Nunhems under the name Intense, and which won the Fruit Logistica Innovation Award in 2008, went on sale exclusively atTesco stores across the UK from today.
Tesco tomato buyer Emma Pettitt said the arrival of thenon-leaking tomato could well be heralded by British sandwich fans as the bestthing to hit the sandwich world since sliced bread.
'As one of the most universally used sandwich ingredients,the problem is one that affects millions of people every day in theUK,' she explained. 'Tomatoes are one of Britain’s most loved vegetablesbut unfortunately their juiciness sometimes means that by lunchtimeour lovely salad sarnie resembles a piece of wet cardboard. Fromnow on that will be a thing of the past.'
After trials using more than 100 varieties, Nunhems achieved its breakthroughlast year when natural breeding methods enabled growers todevelop a tomato that held its shape when sliced, baked or diced.
According to Tesco, tests also showed that, when making a sandwich from a standardtomato, 8 per cent of its weight is lost after slicing it and afurther 12 per cent of the moisture seeps into the bread only anhour later.
The performance of the Intense variety is said to be 'significantlybetter', with less than 1 per cent moisture lost when the tomato issliced and only 3 per cent soaking into the bread, even 12 hoursafter the sandwich is made.
The variety is convenient in other ways, according to Ms Pettitt. 'As we all know tomatoescan be tricky to chop and a squirt of juice can easily end up onthe kitchen wall or over your shirt,' she said. 'The non-leaking variety will stop that problem butwithout the tomato losing any of its taste.'
The new tomato is also said to be more economical, with tests reportedly showingthat chefs need around 30 per cent less than regular varieties whenmaking a sauce.
'Finding innovative new products that suit the needs ofour shoppers is very important to us and we think that this couldrevolutionise the sandwich world,' added Ms Pettitt.
The non-leaking tomatoes go on sale at Tesco stores across the UK from today, priced at £0.99 (€1.11) for a punnetof four.
