Biotech Tomato Near FDA OK

WASHINGTON The long-awaited - and, by some, long-maligned -genetically engineered tomato could reach supermarkets this summer.

The Flavr-Savr tomato is the first such whole food consumerswould be able to buy off the shelf.

An advisory panel of the Food and Drug Administration concludedthree days of debate about biotechnology regulation, but foundnothing to indicate that Flavr-Savr, which takes longer to rot thanthe lower-tech variety, was anything but a tomato.

Although the panel was not asked to make a recommendation, itsconsensus - that the product is safe and that the important questionsabout its properties had been answered - is a significant step …