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Should you be concerned about a global food crisis?

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Should you be concerned about a global food crisis? - The Hot Mess Press

The Chicken Littles of the world would have you believe that the sky is falling. But if you’re paying attention to what’s going on with food prices and availability, you may think they’re not too far from the truth. There’s no doubt that most people are feeling the hit to their wallets when they purchase groceries. Prices on meat, dairy, eggs and many convenience foods have gone up considerably. You can go into the store, buy the same things you bought last year, and pay a significantly higher total. There’s no one thing causing these issues. There are many contributing factors, and there’s a reasonable possibility that it will get worse before it gets better.

Should you be concerned about a global food crisis? - The Hot Mess Press

Random fires and other disasters

Coincidentally, or perhaps not, there have been many fires and other disasters at food manufacturing and distribution centers over the past year. Accidents happen every year but at this frequency? Granted, many were minor fires, so maybe it’s nothing. Have you heard about the uptick in avian flu cases? Millions of chickens and turkeys in the U.S. have already been culled, and many more million may be in for the same fate. Have you noticed chicken and eggs being in short supply on your grocery store shelves? It’s happening around the country and the globe. If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to watch some preparedness YouTube channels. Be wary of those who preach doom and gloom because those messages aren’t helpful. Look for channels that provide news stories without hyperbole and those that help you learn skills that you can put to use when preparing for the future and providing for your own family.

What can you do?

First and foremost, don’t panic. Start preparing within your budget and abilities. If something drastic does happen, where food is not readily available like we’re accustomed to, many people who had no knowledge of the circumstances will definitely panic. This could mean quick emptying of shelves and bad conditions in the stores with crowds and potentially dangerous situations. While some items may be scarce, and prices are high, there is still food on the shelves. Grab extra non-perishable foods when you can and store them away. Many times, convenience foods are the first items to disappear. This means it’s time to learn to cook and bake your own foods. Not only can it be healthier, but using the raw ingredients, rather than buying pre-made, can also save a lot of money.

A food crisis could happen anytime. Or, food prices could go down, the supply chain issues could get fixed, and life could go back to “normal.” Consider which scenario sounds the most likely and prepare accordingly. This doesn’t mean you have to go full prepper mode and start digging your underground bunker. Learn to cook your favorite foods at home and invest in storing the raw ingredients needed for those foods. Put back extra food as you can and learn to preserve foods through dehydration, canning, and freezing. Panic is not the answer. But preparing for a possible crisis is never a bad idea.

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