Food Business News reports:
WASHINGTON — The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) on Dec. 1 said it has closed its fact finding into the presence of bioengineered wheat in the U.S. state of Washington. The agency said “a thorough examination” uncovered no evidence of bioengineered wheat in commerce.
On July 29, the U.S.D.A. confirmed the discovery by a farmer of G.E. wheat plants growing in an unplanted agricultural field in Washington. The agency examined the farmer’s property and ultimately detected 22 wheat plants that were volunteering in an unplanted field. The G.E. wheat in question is resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, commonly referred to as Roundup.
APHIS said it worked with the farmer to ensure that no G.E. wheat moved into commerce. Citing “an abundance of caution,” APHIS said it tested the farmer’s full wheat harvest for the presence of any G.E. wheat material. All samples were found to be negative for any G.E. wheat material, the agency said.
There are no G.E. wheat varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States at this time, as APHIS has not deregulated any G.E. wheat varieties.
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