A cancer-fighting tomato is to be launched onto the UK market by Tesco.
The retailer said the tomato, to be sold under its Healthy Living brand, contains high levels of an antioxidant that may cut prostate cancer risk. The fruit contains roughly twice as much lycopene as other vine varieties.
The launch is part of the chain's move into "functional foods, which are developed to have added health benefits.
The new variety was naturally bred in the Netherlands using different tomato types with high lycopene levels.
It is being grown in greenhouses by specialist grower Humber VHB near Chichester, in West Sussex.
Tesco produce technical manager Ian Reed said: “The health benefits of antioxidants such as lycopene in our diets have recently attracted a lot of positive attention from both the medical and culinary worlds.
“Functional foods such as tomatoes naturally have high levels of lycopene. However, this naturally-bred variety has even higher levels than standard ones and tastes great as well.”
Lycopene has been linked with a potential reduction in the risk of prostate cancer and is thought to be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream when the tomatoes are cooked with certain oils, such as olive oil.
“If these tomatoes prove to be as popular as we believe then we will extend them to stores across the UK," Reed added.
The lycopene-rich tomatoes will be sold in packs of four-to-five tomatoes and will cost £1.89.
An organic variety is due to follow later in the year.
