The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday has declared that the genetically engineered non-browning apples and bruise-resistant potatoes are as safe and nutritious as their conventional counterparts.

Recently, the Department of Agriculture has approved the apples and potatoes for commercial planting. This department looks mainly at whether the crops would pose a threat to other plants and the FDA review looks at food safety.

The specialty of the so-called Arctic apples, which are developed by British Columbia-based Okanagan Specialty Fruits, is that they don't turn brown when sliced or bruised, which could result into less wastage of fruit and would make sliced apples more appealing.

The Boise, Idaho-based J. R. Simplot Co., developed innate potatoes resist bruising and also has been altered to lessen the production of a potential cancer-causing chemical, which takes place when the potatoes are fried.

The FDA hardly ever issues any press releases when it concludes a genetically modified crop review, but this time it did so may be because the attention that media and public have given to these two particular crops.

The biotech crops didn't have any support of consumer and environmental groups, who have urged the restaurants and food companies to avoid the use of the engineered apples and potatoes.

According to some apple growers, processors and exporters, the approval of the biotech apple will taint the wholesome image of the fruit.

The FDA's safety review is voluntary, but as per the industry executives, virtually all developers of biotech crops go through it. The review has been criticized by the Consumer and environmental groups, who have said that the review is inadequate, saying they are cursory reviews of the companies' data. But, on Friday, the FDA has said that its evaluations were thorough.