Globalization in Every Loaf

Ingredients for any processed food product, from bread to vitamins, can come from all over the world. “The lowering of trade barriers more than a decade ago has pushed food companies to scour the globe for more exotic – or the cheapest – ingredients to compete in a more global marketplace, not unlike automakers shipping in parts from all over,” writes Alexei Barrionuevo for the New York Times. A quick search of the internet shows that suppliers are based all over the world, selling stabilizers, foaming agents, additives as well as gluten or honey. Few countries have active inspectors in place to check the imports for contamination or counterfeiting. As a result, companies like Sara Lee, a US food company, must invest in testing and training suppliers in food standards. In searching for the best or least expensive ingredients, purchasers have long tracked energy prices, weather trends and supplies. According to Barrionuevo, food manufacturers now recognize that they can no longer depend on government to guarantee food safety – and they must include that feature on their shopping lists for suppliers. – YaleGlobal