Food in Brazil: consumers reel from the effects of rising prices

In the last 36 months the price of the average food shopping basket in Brazil rose by 25%.

idec (Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor) recently highlighted alarming price increases in certain basic foodstuffs between March 2007 and March 2008 in their monthly magazine revista do idec (see below).

Food in general	12.7%	Margarine	14.6%
Rice	7.7%	Soya oil	48%
Beans	164.4%	Maize oil	40.2%
Milk	25.2%	Beef	19.9%
French Bread	8.7%	Pork	12.1%
Cheese	24%	Poultry and eggs	13.8%

Brazil, a major grain producer, is expecting a record soya harvest in 2008, including 25 million tons earmarked for export. However, the country still depends on imports for 70% of its wheat consumption and consumers are feeling the effects of recent price rises.

idec believes Brazil should develop a national policy on food sovereignty. They are also calling on the government to protect and support indeginous small scale food producers who are suffering more than their industrial counterparts in the current environment.