Tainted Or Not, Food Flows From China

Food manufacturers, concerned about the tainted wheat flour that contaminated animal and pet feeds, are finding that they can't find alternatives to Chinese food additives and ingredients. China is the world's leading supplier of the additives that add flavor, nutrition and preservatives to processed foods. The country's dominance in the market is so pervasive that U.S. food makers that want to buy their ingredients elsewhere have found it difficult to find sources. The experience of these food makers highlights the issue of trust in an international food distribution that has grown increasingly complex without intensive federal monitoring. Your trust of many products relies on the trust of the food maker for its suppliers, according to a story in the May 18 Los Angeles Times. If trust is an issue for you, consider buying local. If you can look your farmer in the eye, you can ask him where he gets his wheat gluten.