Food prices in the U.S. are expected to rise by 5 to 6 percent this year, the highest increase in nearly 20 years, according to the Department Agriculture. Prices are expected to rise well into next year.

The prices of beef, bread and salt have risen by as much as 50 percent in Venezuela, as the government loosened price controls on basic food items in an effort to combat food shortages.

In a move to curb rising food costs, Mexican President Felipe Calderón announced that the prices of over 150 products, including cooking oil, flour and canned tomatoes, will be frozen until the end of the year.

Higher fuel and food costs are increasing the price of public school lunches throughout the country. Some school districts are doubling the price of their breakfast and lunch meals.

Worldwide food production must double by 2030 to meet world demand, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Mexico has announced it will pay poor citizens 120 pesos (about $12) a month to help offset sharp increases in food costs. Nearly half of Mexico lives below the poverty line.

At least 22 people have been killed by anti-immigrant violence in South Africa. Mobs of South Africans angered by rising food prices and electricity shortages are beating, raping and murdering migrants from neighboring Zimbabwe and Mozambique, accusing the foreign workers of stealing jobs and driving up crime rates. Zimbabwe has been devastated by a bloody dictatorship and a broken economy – they recently issued a $500 million bill to keep up with inflation. (via FP Passport)

The U.S. wastes one quarter of its food – one pound of food every day for every American – according to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency. The figure includes food thrown away by restaurants, cafeterias and grocery stores. (via Boing Boing)

Haiti is facing a "major food crisis" if countries around the world do not intervene, says Pedro Medrano of the United Nations' World Food Program.

The price of rice, a staple in half the countries around the world, has risen by nearly 70 percent since the beginning of the year. Josette Sheeran of the United Nations: "This is the new face of hunger – the millions of people who were not in the urgent hunger category six months ago, but now are."