Food Rationing Story Widens

Yesterday's food rationing story has gotten much wider play. From USA Today:

The global food crisis is hitting consumers in the USA, with the nation's top retailer announcing that it's rationing rice because of "supply and demand trends," according to Reuters. “We are limiting the sale of Jasmine, Basmati and Long Grain White Rices to four bags per member visit,” Sam's Club, a division of Wal-Mart, says in a statement cited by Fox Business News. “This is effective immediately in all of our U.S. clubs, where quantity restrictions are allowed by law.” This follows reports of rationing at Costco.

The price of rice has risen 68% since the beginning of the year, with prices for wheat, soybean, and corn approaching all-time highs. With the major networks teasing the story all day for their evening broadcasts, I wouldn't be surprised to see a national run on staples in the next few days. Anybody remember the time that Johnny Carson made a joke about a toilet paper shortage and caused a real national scarcity after millions ran out and bought every roll in the country?