[an error occurred while processing this directive]
BBC News
watch One-Minute World News
Last Updated: Friday, 24 August 2007, 09:37 GMT 10:37 UK
Pasty prices 'affected by China'
Pasties date back to about 1300
A change in eating habits by millions of Chinese people has put pressure on the world-famous Cornish pasty market, according to pasty manufacturers.

As more and more Chinese people have turned from rice to bread, demand for wheat has increased, pushing up world prices for wheat, flour and cereals.

It has hit pasty production costs and forced manufacturers to raise charges.

Cornwall agricultural contractor Stephen Barrett says changing eastern eating habits have hit shop prices.

"Demand for wheat is affecting world markets," he said. "Raw materials are costing more, so people will have to pay more for their goods."

'People need pasties'

Nick Abbott, director of Plymouth-based family firm Ivor Dewdney, which specialises in pasties, said grain prices were "flying up through the roof".

He said: "But people need their pasties and there is only so much we can absorb, so prices rises will become inevitable eventually.

International economists tell us there is very much a shift away from the traditional diets in developing nations
Martin Howlett, National Farmers' Union

"There has been a 20% increase in the cost of wheat in the last six months and a further increase is expected before Christmas."

He said costs of margarine were also escalating as bio-fuel production used up crops and recent bad weather and floods had forced up prices of ingredients such as onions and potatoes.

Martin Howlett, Chairman of the Cornwall branch of the National Farmers' Union, said the bad weather had had a big impact on commodity prices, and added: "International economists tell us there is very much a shift away from the traditional diets in developing nations.

"As their economies move forward and they are able to afford it, there is a move away from things like rice to more westernised diets."

He said this was being reflected in the price of grain - and would also be seen soon in the cost of red meat.

Rain and wind have damaged European wheat crops

Yorkshire pud rises to top award
22 Feb 07 |  West Yorkshire
Pasties wing their way to troops
14 Dec 06 |  Cornwall
Protests feed Cornish pasty row
24 Mar 05 |  Cornwall
Talks aimed at protecting pasty
19 Mar 05 |  Cornwall

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Has China's housing bubble burst?
How the world's oldest clove tree defied an empire
Why Royal Ballet principal Sergei Polunin quit


Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific