food prices

Food prices have been on the rise for some time now, but an upcoming study to be published Wednesday warns that they will increase even more. According to Oxfam, the price of food, mainly staples like corn, will double by 2030. A number of factors — the depletion of natural resources, climate change, growing global population, etc. — have caused more poverty in the world and the poorest people, who already spend the majority of their income on food, will be the first to suffer.

To solve the situation, Oxfam is recommending a complete overhaul of the world's food system. The chief executive said, "We are sleepwalking towards an age of avoidable crisis. One in seven people on the planet go hungry every day despite the fact that the world is capable of feeding everyone. The food system must be overhauled." It's easy to call for action, but the change that is necessary will probably not come quick enough. Are you concerned about a global food crisis?

• A collection of sweet and savory snacks for your desk drawer. — Chow
• The FDA on radiation safety: "There is no risk to the US food supply." — FDA
• Was it the Noma book that cost René Redzepi a third Michelin star? — Grub Street SF
• Food trucks have officially jumped the shark: even Jack in the Box has one. — Eater
• How foodies are raising money for Japan. — Epi-Log
• As food prices soar, so will your restaurant tab. — Walletpop
• Amidst Japan's nuclear crisis, Chinese shoppers are stockpiling iodized salt. — Eatocracy
• Must make: Middle Eastern lamb pizza. — Serious Eats

Not only do we have to deal with rising gas prices, but our grocery bills are going to face an increase as well. Although retailers and food producers are willing to soak up the higher commodity costs, food prices have still been going up. Here's why it's pricier to shop for your eats:

• Many areas around the world have been plagued by bad weather conditions, which have impacted the amount of production.
• The smaller grain supply has increased the price of animals like pigs and cows, which consume them.
• As developing nations like China and India become wealthier, there is increased demand for food items.

Now that you know your bill is getting higher, and that it's not just you, learn how to spend less on groceries by reading our tips on price matching, knowing what to buy in bulk, buying store brands, and just using realistic tricks to saving. Do you have any savvy tips for shrinking grocery bills?

• Cocoa prices are on the rise. — The Feast
• Potato chip fun facts. — Endless Simmer
• Rachael Ray takes on the stuffy world of foodies. — Daily Beast
• Update your kitchen with a little wallpaper. — The Kitchn
• More videos with details on Grant Achatz's upcoming eateries. — Eater
• Speaking of Achatz, here's an interesting Q&A where he discusses what he learned at the French Laundry. — FoodGal
• Marco Canora likes chips in his sandwiches. — Grub Street NY
• Is food too cheap? — Huffington Post Food
• Seven easy and healthy risotto recipes. — Chow

Could cooking at home be costing you? According to market research firm NPD Group, grocery aisle price hikes are predicted to surpass restaurant menu price increases for all of 2011. Although supermarket food prices dropped in 2009, they ended up in 2010 and are currently rising faster than restaurant costs — a factor that's driving more Americans out of the kitchen and back into dining establishments. Why the sudden price jump? Fierce supermarket competition during the economic recession kept grocery prices prohibitively low — but meanwhile, costs for commodities like sugar, corn, and pork continued to build. As a result, many analysts expect a grocery bill bubble to burst and food inflation rates to reach notable highs.That's some scary news for the American pocketbook. Have you noticed a jump in grocery costs — and is it driving you to eat out more?

In a small indication that America may be on a slow road to economic recovery, consumer foods marketers are beginning to reintroduce larger packages at the same price. Last year, manufacturers were hit by high fuel and commodity prices, so to avoid blatantly transferring cost increases to consumers, manufacturers such as Hellman's, Tropicana, and Kellogg's quietly began downsizing packages.

Ben & Jerry's even went after the size of Haagen-Dazs in its marketing campaign, pointing out that the rival company had downsized its "pints" from 16 to 14 ounces. But recently, some consumer products, like Pringles Super Stacks, and certain bags of Frito-Lay's chips, have shot back up to their original sizes. It's unclear whether increased package sizes are going to be part of limited-time promotions or permanent reversals.

Which products have you noticed products increasing in size lately?