Soaring cost of food is forcing families to scrimp at the dinner table

Whether at supermarkets, corner stores, or open-air markets, prices for food have been surging in much of the world, forcing families to make tough decisions about their diets. Meat is often the first to go, ceding space to less expensive proteins such as dairy, eggs, or beans. In some households, a glass of milk has become a luxury reserved only for children; fresh fruit, once deemed a necessity, is now a treat.

Food prices in July were up 31 per cent from the same month last year, according to an index compiled by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization. A