U.S. officials are racing to quash global alarm in the wake of news the strain of wheat, developed by biotech giant Monsanto Co (MON.N), had been found in an Oregon field late last month. The discovery has already prompted major buyer Japan to cancel plans to buy U.S. wheat while the European Union said it would step up tests.
³From this weekend, we will also collect wheat and flour imported from all over the United States and will conduct tests next week,² said Ahn Man-ho, a spokesman at the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.