Japan's impending food crisis...

... at least if you like mayonnaise.

Turns out the global expansion in demand for bio-fuel has hit home with Kewpie Mayonnaise raising its prices 10% (first time in 17 years mind you!) due to rising costs in raw materials, especially canola oil. They aren't the only company either, with the cost of oil, a lot of processed foods are starting to cost more, which could end the end turn deflation into inflation. (Average prices actually fell 0.3% in March compared to a year before)

Some interesting tidbits though.... For example if the entire U.S. corn and soybean production were turned over to biofuel production, it would only offset the use of petroleum by between 2 and 3%. That's all.

What we really need is something else more sustainable in the long term...