Mexico bans Illinois wheat due to fungus

October 23, 2002

Reuters, 10.10.02, 2:20 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Mexico has informed the U.S. Agriculture Department

it has banned U.S. wheat shipments from Illinois because of concerns they

may contain the contagious Karnal bunt fungus, an industry source told

Reuters Thursday.

USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service " received a letter from

Mexico saying that it would temporarily ban Illinois wheat because of Karnal

bunt concerns, " said the industry source, who wished not to be identified.

The source, who was told about the letter by an APHIS official, said the ban

was effective immediately.

The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Wednesday it was investigating

whether a U.S. wheat shipment to Mexico was contaminated with Karnal bunt.

USDA said Mexico had stopped the shipment due to these concerns.

The wheat disease is not dangerous to humans or livestock, but causes a foul

odor and off-color in contaminated wheat, making it less desirable to

foreign buyers. Karnal bunt is primarily spread by spores and through the

movement of infected seed.

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