Japanese delegation meets US farmers to address soybean admixture in wheat

unintended presence of soybeans in wheat shipments. In mid-December, a delegation from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), together with representatives of the Japanese Flour Millers Association (JFMA), visited the U.S. West Coast. The visit aimed to strengthen the supply chain and ensure continued deliveries of stable, high-quality wheat to the Japanese market. Japanese officials raised concerns about soybean admixture in wheat shipments, which can occur unintentionally due to shared farm equipment, storage facilities, or transportation systems used for multiple commodities. While all U.S. wheat shipments to Japan meet strict contract specifications and are inspected by the USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service as well as independent laboratories, soybean admixture is a sensitive issue because soybeans are a major allergen for Japanese consumers. During meetings with wheat commissions, farmers, and grain companies from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, ...