Is the world headed for a food crisis? India, Mexico and Yemen have seen food riots this year. Argentines boycotted tomatoes during that country's recent presidential elections when vegetable became more expensive than meat; and in Italy, shoppers organized a one-day boycott of pasta to protest rising prices. In late October last year, the Russian government, hoping to ease tension ahead of parliamentary elections early next year, announced a price freeze for milk, bread and other foods through the end of January.