Higher food prices lead to

Global instability

Local psychological nervousness and sometimes rioting depending on location and culture

Throughout history that is

And is there any reason why these times should be any different?

One of the more alarming recent developments around the world is the steep increase in many food prices

Many reasons are given from commodity price increases to bio fuel growth

Can leaders really be so slow as not to have realized that growing ever larger quantities of subsidized and lightly taxed bio fuels would result in increased food shortages and higher prices in many countries?

Apparently it is so

Politicians encourage bio fuel growth when many people on the planet have no affordable food

Things are seriously amiss when politicians encourage policies that lead to steep food price increases

This is how it is today with pundits telling us that prices will not come down again because of multiple factors

Again and as usual for the consumer this is force majeure

In countries where most are poor events can spiral out of control

In the West events might be different but the political fallout can be as unpredictable

We all need to eat so must change our foods or buy less

Eat differently

Eat out less

Cook more at home

Stop buying so many ready made meals and take aways

And while doing so observe with interest how the price of food is an emotional topic anywhere

Indeed it is one that politicians ignore at their peril

And we the consumers pay as usual for politically manipulated crop subsidies and incentives pandering to special interest groups