USDA Discovery of Genetically Engineered Wheat May Threaten US Sales Abroad
The U.S. Department of Agriculture found another strain of genetically engineered (GE) wheat at a research facility in Montana, the agency said on Sept. 26, while also announcing it is closing an investigation into a similar case last year. Following the 2013 discovery of GE wheat growing on a farm in Oregon, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan all temporarily suspended imports of U.S. wheat (here). The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has not yet approved any genetically engineered wheat for sale or distribution in U.S. commerce.
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The genetically engineered strains were not authorized for commercial sale. USDA concluded that the genetically engineered strain discovered in 2013 never entered the commercial stream. The wheat discovered in recent days was found on the site of the Montana State University’s Southern Agricultural Research Center in Huntley, Montana, where genetically engineered wheat was field-tested under APHIS monitoring between 2000 and 2003. “The genetic trait detected in the wheat in these two instances does not present a food safety issue because FDA completed a food safety consultation for this GE wheat in 2004 and expressed no food safety concerns,” said the USDA.
Both wheat strains are modified to resist Roundup, the weed treatment product. “Among other things, APHIS’ ongoing investigation is focusing on why GE wheat was found growing at the research facility location,” said the USDA. “Wheat from the facility has not been allowed to enter commercial channels this year and GE wheat grown as part of authorized field trials at this research facility between 2000 and 2003 was likewise not allowed to enter commercial channels. None of the wheat is sold as seed.” USDA is also increasing its detection outreach throughout the country, it said.