USDA's Karnal Bunt Regulatory Program Protects U.S. Wheat Exports

摘要

Karnal bunt is a wheat fungus known to occur in India, Mexico, and a few areas of the United States. Many countries free of Karnal bunt have imposed restrictions on imports of infected wheat. USDA responded by issuing certificates declaring that U.S.wheat shipments are from areas where Karnal bunt is not known to occur. USDA imposes quarantines to contain the spread of the disease and coordinates an annual voluntary survey of grain elevators to check for Karnal bunt. USDA issues the certificates based on the survey and use of quarantines. Karnal bunt seldom results in significant yield loss and does not produce toxic compounds that pose risks to animal or human health. However, if more than 3 percent of the wheat is infected, the flour milled fromthe wheat tends to give off a fishy odor.