All I wanted to say is that someone wrote that Whole Foods did not have "xanthan gum" [I hope that's what it was--it took so long to fill in all the questions I have forgotten]. I live in Seattle, was just at a local Whole Foods less than one hour ago, and they have xanthan gum, guar gum, all of those products, and I even read the labels. Xanthan gum seemed a little expensive, but when you really need it, I'm sure that does not matter. I have arrowroot at home, and the label does not state specifically that it is a substitue for XG, but that probably calls for more research. Most spice lines carried by local groceries do carry arrowroot, and all local "health" or "natural" food stores I have been to carry it.

Perhaps the Whole Foods stores you have been to are in a smaller community and can't carry everything.

Virginia