Here at the Whole Grains Council we are frequently asked by consumers whether the wheat in the U.S. food supply is bio-engineered (GMO) or not. 

The answer has always been no – and for a very interesting reason: American wheat farmers have long fought hard against the introduction of any GMO wheat, for fear that their all-important export markets would dry up. (Here’s a 2010 article, in Reuters, that reports this concern, for instance.) Last week we saw that their fears were grounded in reality, when Japan and South Korea stopped purchasing certain types of U.S. wheat after tests showed that some stalks of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready Wheat were found in a field in Oregon. The United States produces just 10 percent of the world’s wheat but is consistently the world’s largest exporter of wheat — explaining why this discovery is so troubling to wheat farmers.

In the week since this discovery, Monsanto’s stock has fallen (4% as we write this), and on June 4 Kansas wheat farmer Ernest Barnes sued Monsanto on the grounds that he suffered economic harm from the fall in wheat futures prices that came on the heels of Japan’s and South Korea’s import bans. It’s widely expected that other lawsuits are likely to follow, especially if the Asian import bans remain in place for long.

Monsanto field-tested the variety of GMO wheat found in Oregon from 1998 to 2005; some reports say it’s currently testing another GMO wheat version in North Dakota and Hawaii. On the one hand, we find it reassuring that experts are regularly testing wheat crops for the presence of glyphosphate (RoundUp)-resistant strains. On the other hand, we find it puzzling that no one can explain how this wheat suddenly appeared in an Oregon field when Monsanto’s original testing program was allegedly closed out “following all required procedures” eight years ago. Investigations are under way to learn more and the USDA is developing a “rapid test” kit so that it’s easier to test more samples of wheat.

Whether you favor GMO foods or not, our position here at Oldways and the Whole Grains Council is that we should all be able to make our own food choices. That’s why we believe GMO ingredients should be labeled as such, on food packaging. Connecticut this week passed the nation’s first GMO-labeling law by a decisive 143-3 vote (although the law won’t go in effect until some other states also adopt such a bill). We hope this unexpected event in Oregon will spur a healthy discussion and more action on GMO labeling.  (Cynthia)