GMO Wheat Goes Rogue...AGAIN
Unapproved genetically modified (GM) wheat was found in Washington state.
The FDA and the USDA have not approved GM wheat for sale or commercial production in the United States. Yet, GM strains have been previously been found in Washington (2016), Montana (2014), and Oregon (2013). Interestingly, the USDA could not figure out where the GM wheat in Oregon came from, so they simply closed the investigation in 2014. And now, rogue GM wheat has been found in Washington once again. Officials will not disclose the exact location, but were willing to divulge that the GM wheat was found on an unplanted wheat field.
This is a huge concern for consumers who don’t want to eat GMO foods. While wheat is often self-pollinating, it can cross-pollinate. In fact, research suggests that crops as far as 1.5 miles away could be contaminated by GM crops through wind and cross-pollination. And, since wheat is one of the main crops grown in the United States and it’s present in a large number of processed foods, the risk of potential contamination continues to climb as more rogue GM wheat pops up in the U.S.
Not only is this situation concerning for consumers, it could devastate organic and non-GMO farmers. They could lose their certification and experience a large drop in income. For instance, contamination of GM corn and GM rice have previously resulted in over $1 billion in losses for farmers. In addition, Europe and Asia have previously blocked imports of U.S. wheat due to fear of GMO contamination. If GM wheat continues to go rogue, it’s a serious problem for U.S. farmers because the United States is the largest exporter of wheat in the world. It’s an $8 billion business, according to the Center for Food Safety. Consequently, there’s a lot at stake. According to a 2005 study, the wheat industry could lose $94 to $272 million if GM wheat is introduced to the market.
What You Can Do:
Buy organic wheat that has been verified as non-GMO by the Non-GMO Project. The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit, independent organization dedicated to preserving and building the non-GMO food supply. They provide verified non-GMO choices that are easy to spot in the grocery store because their seal is a colorful butterfly that is usually printed on the front of food products. The Butterfly is the most trusted seal available for GMO avoidance. READ MORE
Buy wheat from someone you trust – such as a local farm where you can verify the organic or non-GMO claim for yourself.
Resources:
http://beyondpesticides.org/dailynewsblog/2019/06/unapproved-roundup-ready-wheat-found-in-washington-farm-field/
http://www.naturalhealth365.com/genetically-engineered-wheat-3069.html
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0029730
