Purple Tomatoes ?

That's right -- PURPLE tomatoes! They are the product of work done by scientists at the John Innes Center in Norwich, England. The John Innes Center is dedicated to finding ways to increase the level of health-promoting compounds in fruits and vegetables.

The purple color comes from an antioxidant pigment called anthocyanin, which is commonly found in the blackberry, cranberry and chokeberry. The scientists took the anthocyanin from snapdragon flower and incorporated those genes into the tomato plant. The new tomato has been tested on mice, and the mice who ate it were healthier and lived longer than those who did not.

They are ready now to test the tomato on humans. Anthocyanin is known to have anti-cancer properties, and has been particularly effective against colon cancer. It is thought the new tomato may also help boost eyesight, protect against cardiovascular disease and age-related degenerative diseases, and help to stave off diabetes and obesity.

I have no problem with the change in color from red to purple -- especially if it is significantly healthier to eat. But I do have one important question. Does it still taste like a red tomato?