So what does the shirt you're wearing have to do with the syrup on your pancake? Well, if you're like me there's a good chance the two may have an ill-fated meeting. But more practically these two products are linked by a basic raw material: cotton. While most everyone knows cotton is used to make clothing, you may not know it is also used to make a common gum in the food industry: cellulose gum and its modified cousins CMC, HPMC, and MC. These products come from cotton linters and are refined to different levels of viscosity strength depending on desirability. It is CMC that is the most common thickening agent used in the syrup industry for its smooth rheology and crystal clear opacity. Unfortunately for both producers and consumers, many recent commodity reports have shown cotton prices sky rocketing over the past year, increasing the cost of all cotton based products. This upward trend for food raw materials is not limited to CMC as pointed out in this article. Many basic foods like sugar, coffee, milk, and beef are also experiencing increases. While consumers are in a tough economic environment, food manufacturer's looking to retain or expand market share are juggling increasing costs and tightening supplies.

Gum Guru Guest Blogger: Tim Andon, Business Development Specialist