Testing and Handling GMO and Non-GMO Grains

Abstract

<p>In April, 1999, the three largest US com processors, Cargill, Archer-Daniels-Midland, and AE Staley announced that they would not accept corn from hybrids that had genetic modifications not yet approved for sale in the European Union (EU) (www.grainnet.com/BreakingNews/articles.html?ID=3581). While the USA sells little whole com to Europe, it does export com gluten products to the EU. Gluten feed and meal are produced from the protein and bran fractions of com after starch has been extracted in a wet mill plant. This statement affected an estimated 3-7% of the com about to be planted this spring, but nonetheless greatly increased the awareness of the US market to the rapidly expanding genetically modified organism (GMO) issue in Europe. Consumer pressures increased through the growing season to the point that, in September, ADM requested that elevators serving its plants separate all GMO products from all non-GMO products, regardless of EU approval status. (www.grainnet.com/BreakingNews/articles.html?ID=4653)</p>