broccoli

Marks & Spencer has today started selling Beneforte broccoli, a variety that contains 2-3 times as much glucoraphanin as standard broccoli.

Glucoraphanin is converted in the gut into sulphoraphane, which evidence suggests can stop uncontrolled cell division that is associated with the early stages of cancer.

Sulphoraphane also reduces chronic inflammation that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Beneforte broccoli was developed at the Institute of Food Research and John Innes Centre in Norwich, Norfolk.

The UK government's science minister, David Willetts, called Beneforte a "fantastic achievement".