Food Shortages Here in the United States

Oh, wow. Here I am thinking about whether to feel guilty for writing about sugar-free chocolate, floating along not worrying about all the food riots that have been happening lately, even wondering whether to post my pancake recipe, even though it’s passover (apparently I was a week off?)…

But this little bit of news got my attention.

Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.

It’s from an article called “Food Rationing Confronts Breadbasket of the World,” and it’s all about how Costco in the bay area is running out of rice, and rationing it. And in queens, they say, rice supplies are ok, but flour and oil are in short supply.

I’ve been watching as the price of many food items we buy have increased by 150-200% over the past year, and it seemed like nobody but me noticed. I think I liked it better then, when I could keep my head in the sand. Well, not really, but still.