Food bills set to increase after drought with US crops

UK shoppers are to expect to pay more for food items such as bread and pasta, experts ...

16:45 28 August 2012

UK shoppers are to expect to pay more for food items such as bread and pasta, experts warned this weekend.

 

This follows the announcement of at least 35 states in the U.S.A said to be disaster areas due to droughts.

 

It is thought that the crisis felt by the American’s will impact the price of crops around the world.

 

The cost of meat is also expected to increase as expenses for animal food will soar due to the drought.

 

A British Retail Consortium spokesman said: “The drought is not yet having an impact but it will work through to meat prices because of the price of animal feed and ultimately to things such as bread and pasta.”

 

MP for South Thanet, Laura Sandys, told BBC Radio Four the UK needed to make changes in attitudes and policies towards food on the whole.

 

As reported by the Daily Mail, the UK harvests have been delayed due to a poor summer with some vegetables being imported to make up for provisions.

 

This news could pose a threat to George Osborne as he focuses on inflation for the election.

 

Food prices are at 3.1% for the last year, which is slower than the figures from BRC for 2008 which were at 10% per cent, as quoted by the Daily Mail. 

 

Officials have said that senior figures from G20 see no action being taken on the increase of food prices before mid-September.