For poor Iranians, keeping bread and rice prices affordable makes the difference between bare survival and destitution.Although many economists frown on Iran's extensive system of keeping staple prices low, they are more tolerant of the bread and wheat subsidy.
What Is Most Pressing Now? Thousands remain stranded and in need of rescue; Malaria and diarrhoea are on the increase, posing added health threats; Shortages are driving staple prices beyond the reach of many; and Needed bridges and roads have been washed away.
Retail chains can work with governments and food companies to develop a balanced food basket of local staples priced to be affordable to the poor.
Staple food prices spiked after the earthquake, and although some food items were back to pre-earthquake prices by September 2010 (including imported rice), prices for local corn, sorghum, and wheat flour were 25%, 29%, and 25% higher, respectively, than before.
When staple food prices rise, civil unrest can follow.
If housing is a staple, though, prices will rise more slowly — with general inflation, as food tends to.
But there is another aspect to the impact of increases in staple food prices on the poor: a sharp rise in "hidden hunger", or deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.
Mr Ben Ali, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1987, made an emotional televised address on Thursday night, vowing to step aside in 2014 and ordering staple food prices be slashed.
The first sign things were unravelling hit in 2008, when a global rice shortage coincided with dramatic increases in staple food prices, triggering food riots across the middle east, north Africa and south Asia.
We've seen big rises in recent history: a near doubling of many staple food prices in 2007 and 2008 led to riots in more than 30 countries and an estimated 150 million extra people going hungry.
Sudan – 4.6 million people are food insecure, primarily due to the effects of El Niño, and this is likely to increase due to below-average agricultural production last year, rising staple food prices and continued conflict.
