EDMONTON – A trace of genetically modified material was found in a shipment of Canadian non-GM brown mustard exported to Europe in November and December, says the chair of the Canadian Mustard Association.
“The European community of mustard buyers knows Canada has no GMO varieties of mustard, yet when they did a test, they found a trace of GMO in the mustard,” said Walter Dyck of Lethbridge.
He said European buyers were concerned at first, but further tests showed the trace of GM material was not from mustard, but from canola mixed with the mustard.
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Up to one percent of canola is allowed in mustard for export, but Dyck said the amount is usually closer to 0.1 percent.
Canada now has to reassure its European customers it will take steps to reduce the amount of canola mixed with mustard, said Dyck, who works with Demeter Agro, Agricore United’s mustard division.
About 700,000 acres of mustard are grown across the Prairies, mostly in Saskatchewan. Yellow mustard makes up half the crop. Brown and oriental mustard make up the rest.
About 80 percent of the Prairies’ brown mustard is exported to Europe because of its high quality.
“We lead the world in quality,” Dyck said.
There are several places the canola could have been mixed with the mustard: as a volunteer in the field; in the grain truck; in the country elevator; in a rail car; or at the export terminal.
Dyck said Canada must show its European buyers that it is working hard to keep the small-seeded crops separate throughout the handling process.
“We have to show we are segregating the mustard from the canola.”
The mustard association plans to issue seeding and harvesting bulletins as reminders to growers to be diligent about keeping the crops separate.
“There’s always a concern, but it’s being addressed,” he said.
“As a country we have to continue to provide assurance we’re minimizing the amount of canola in mustard.”
