After E. coli bacteria were found in spinach last October, consumers turned to American-grown produce and asked the burning question: ‘How’d that get there?’ After pet-sickening melamine was found in wheat gluten from China in March, attention shifted to pet food and people asked: ‘What’s in this stuff?’ Now, with news that Chinese feed suppliers may have intentionally disguised the contents of exports to escape food inspection, the questions have reached the broadest level yet: ‘With the increased globalization of America’s food supply, who should be monitoring all the food coming in from foreign countries?’ The answer depends on whom you ask. Many call for more funding for inspection agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture. Others say there must be new, voluntary standards by American importing companies themselves, with the burden and cost of inspection borne by importers. A final set of solutions involves urging the governments of other countries to implement their own standards, with the realization that their international reputations are at stake. Critics of the current inspection system say the problems have been building for years. ‘Our food inspection system in America is […]