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The most appetising supermarket tomatoes are often the least flavoursome and now we might know why and who is to blame.
Murdoch University associate professor of food science and nutrition, Vicky Solah, said tomatoes at Coles and Woolworths were bred for characteristics other than flavour - and McDonalds is partly to blame.
'Supermarket tomatoes have been bred for yield and to make them look beautiful becauses consumers like them to look beautiful,' she said.
'Unfortunately, some of the flavour is lost in that breeding for yield.'
© Provided by Daily MailLooking good, tasting average - the humble tomato has lost flavour because of how they are grown according to a Western Australian associate professor Vicky Solah
© Provided by Daily MailMs Solah said McDonald's was partly to blame because some tomato growing techniques, such as making them fit perfectly into a burger, don't add to flavour
Ms Solah told The West Live podcast that the way tomatoes were grown had been influenced by the fast food giant.
The podcast's host, Ben O'Shea, started the conversation saying he found many big red and supermarket tomatoes sometimes tasted 'like cardboard' and even 'terrible'
'I think it's kind of the McDonalds transformation of tomatoes, so that they fit in the bun and those sorts of things, has had an influence which is not good,' Ms Solah replied.
Ms Solah said not all supermarket tomatoes were flavourless and recommended the Roma variety.
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'Roma tomatoes are probably your best bet for getting flavour, that's what I buy, so they're pretty good still,' she said.
The egg-shaped Roma tomatoes are typically more expensive than truss or standard round tomatoes.
Ms Solah, whose university research is about 'how flavour adds to satisfaction', said a bowl of well-made pasta with cheese can kill food cravings.
'If people have a great meal on paste with tomato and cheese they feel really satisfied and they don't crave something else,' she said.
'Even children they seem really happy at the end of it, and messy.
Ms Solah said experts were working to try and get more flavour back into supermarket tomatoes.
© Provided by Daily MailVicky Solah says the more expensive Roma variety of tomatoes is tastier than standard types
© Provided by Daily MailThe new Yoom tomato - described as 'a flavour experience' - has a dark purple exterior and was developed by Swiss agribusiness, Syngenta
Perth is hosting a tomato festival on March 6 and 7 to showcase the produce of local growers.
It is not known whether the newest variety of tomato to Australia - the 'Yoom' - will be included.
The Yoom tomato has a dark purple exterior and was developed by Swiss agribusiness, Syngenta.
The Yoom tomato gets its name from its Umami flavour, which has been described as savory or 'meaty'.
Daily Mail Australia contacted McDonalds for comment.
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