Food rationing hits America

“Them belly full but we hungry,” sang Bob Marley, adding, “A hungry mob is an angry mob.”

The world is about to discover that the slum survivor from Kingston, Jamaica knew what he was talking about. Food prices worldwide have nearly doubled, and wheat prices have trebled in the past few years.

But the increase has accelerated in the past few months, and consumers have noticed. Last week food riots brought down the Haitian government; there have been demonstrations in more than a dozen countries; and in the US, rice and flour are being rationed.

The US? The world’s biggest grain exporter, whose patriotic songs speak fondly, and accurately, of amber waves of grain?

New Scientist