USDA Confirms GE Wheat Was Discovered In Washington Field
GM Wheat 061119
This past week USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed it discovered genetically engineered (GE) wheat in Washington state. It was found in an unplanted field and is resistant to glyphosate.
While this discovery is unexpected, there is no evidence any GE wheat has entered the food supply. USDA is working with state, industry and trading partners to provide timely and transparent information about these findings.
To date, there are no GE wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the U.S. as USDA hasn’t deregulated any GE wheat.
Samples of the wheat plants from Washington were sent to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service lab in Kansas City, Mo., and to a USDA Agricultural Research lab in Pullman, Wash. for testing and confirmation.
“We cannot speculate or comment about any potential market reactions until we learn more from APHIS and have a chance to discuss the situation in more detail with overseas customers,” U.S. Wheat Associates and National Association of Wheat Growers said in a joint news release. “Based on what we know today from APHIS, we are confident that nothing has changed in the U.S. wheat supply chain’s ability to deliver wheat that matches every customer’s specifications.”
Read more about past GE wheat discoveries here.
