These are the sorts of actions that make people wonder if China is looking to undermine our nation's food supply.

Now that the plant shutdowns are taking place, Smithfield is warning US residents about a potential meat shortage. Why aren't the beef packing plants going through the same sort of crisis? It's a good question, of course. As for Smithfield Foods, they are still in the process of shutting down various US plants.

The news reports about Smithfield neglect to mention one crucial fact: the company is Chinese owned. Wan Long is the Chinese billionaire who is responsible for the fate of Smithfield Foods. Long purchased the company when it was a tiny, state-owned meat processing plant.

From there, Long has been able to expand the company into a juggernaut that clears $24 billion in annual sales. Long also owns Cook's ham and Nathan's Famous hot dogs. Sioux Falls, South Dakota has become one of the United States' most affected hot spots and Long is looking to get the outbreak under control.