September 29, 2009
Brazil finds US wheat shipment free of toxin
Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture confirmed Monday (September 28) that a shipment of wheat from the US has been permitted to enter Brazil after being inspected for vomitoxin.
Brazilian officials completed tests during a two-week-period on a shipment of wheat for vomitoxin that recently arrived at Santos port in Sao Paulo state. Vomitoxin can sicken humans and animals if ingested.
"The 67 samples of wheat conformed with the official standard," the Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release.
Brazil is a major wheat importer and usually secures most of its shipments from Argentina.
This year, however, Argentina suffered from a prolonged drought and export restrictions that hampered the flow of wheat to neighbouring Brazil.
As a result, Brazil is importing wheat from countries such as the US.
