The WHO report that the H7N9 poultry virus is one of the most lethal yet. Deaths among workers in poultry industry are 27 to date. The virus is not spreading between humans yet Shanghai Poultry Market has been closed.
there are recent other bad publicity in the Chinese food industry from diseased pork and others species in the food chain that makes UK horse meat scandal pale to insignificance.
Many amino acids used in nutrition ,sports and flavours do originate from feathers and China is the biggest exporter. Arginine, cysteine, leucine to name all come from feathers. There are alternatives produced from fermentation.
Of course they may be more expensive but without scaremongering we should ask questions to assure customers and markets.
We can provide some non Chinese Alternatives