London (CNN) -- World food prices rose to an all-time high in
January, according to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO). The FAO's Food Price Index measures the cost
of a basket of basic food supplies -- sugar, cereals, dairy,
oils and fats and meat -- across the globe. The index rose by
3.4% in January -- the seventh monthly increase in a row -- to
its highest level since records began in 1990. The cost of
sugar, cereals, dairy and oils and fats all went up last month,
while meat prices remained steady. FAO economist Abdolreza
Abbassian said high prices were likely to persist in the months
to come. Rising commodities costs are one of the major factors
behind a growing wave of civil unrest across the Middle East and
North Africa. "High food prices are of major concern especially
for low-income food deficit countries that may face problems
financing food imports and for poor households which spend a
large share of their income on food," said Abbassian. Responding
to the FAO's announceme