Gluten Levels Of Wheat A Concern To China

China says it may buy more U.S. wheat because they aren't happy with the low gluten strength of Canadian Spring Wheat.

Earl Geddes of the Canadian International Grains Institute says it may be just a ploy get a better price. "It's like me buying a car, if I'm trying to buy the best car on the lot I'm always going to have another excuse for why I shouldn't pay quite as much as they're asking and part of the time that's what this is about, a customer making a complaint to negotiate on a deal or point out that they do have other alternatives."

He says CIGI is always evaluating the crop as it's being shipped and it changes over the course of the year as the wheat kernel develops. He says because of the environment, farming practices and new varieties the crop is always changing and they're having an impact on the "protein functionality". That affects the way it combines with other types of wheat and grains in the baking process.

He sa ys perhaps a bigger concern is the damage than can be done to the reputation of our wheat by these types of complaints. Geddes says that's where the CIGI comes in to defend the quality of the product.