Has global food shortage already reached America?(0)
Not in a big way, but there are signs. The two largest retails chains, Sam’s Club and Costco, are putting restriction on how much rice one can buy. They blamed the decision on the current change in supply and demand.
Following news of the global food crisis there is a surge in people stocking up large quantities of food items in the fear of rising price. To prevent supply shortage Costco warehouse in California started limiting purchases of flour, rice and cooking oil. Following that Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart, is limiting customers to four bags at a time of imported jasmine, basmati and long grain white rice. The limit applies only 20-pound bags and not smaller retail size bags. Another chain BJ’s Wholesale Club said it is not imposing limits for now but watching the situation and may impose restriction later. Rising demand from all developing countries compounded by lower crop yields has incased the price of rice by more than 70 percent since January. The shortage of rice, a staple food for half of world population, can cause a serious problem days ahead.
The present restrictions seemed to target small business and restaurants that might be stocking up in anticipation of higher prices down the road. For now, there is no real shortage of food supply in US.
