Italians call for pasta strike due to increase of prices

Italians were called to join a pasta strike on Thursday to protest against the inexplicable increase of prices.

Outraged over hikes in pasta prices, organisers and supporters of the strike have threatened to go for 24-hours without buying any pasta in the shops.

Consumer groups warn that pasta prices, specifically those for spaghetti, have gone up by 27 percent, a shock for Italians used to a steady diet of spaghetti, fettuccine and ravioli.

However there are doubts that a strike will do much to change the hike in prices.

"It's an important demonstrative gesture but I have doubts it will bring results," one woman told AP Television.

According to news reports, durum wheat, which is used to make pasta, is now being used as a bio-fuel, raising demand and therefore the price.

Another reason is improved diets in emerging countries where putting more meat on the table is raising the demand for feed for livestock.

As a result, wheat stocks worldwide are being depleted and grain prices are soaring.

Higher wheat prices have led to a rise in flour prices and therefore pasta, bread and pizza prices have also gone up.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday that U.S. stockpiles are at their lowest level in 33 years.

But Italian consumer groups claim that grain prices have increased only slightly since 1985 and that the increases in prices of bread and pasta, have nothing to do with wheat prices, and call it wild speculation.

Consumer groups say they will distribute free pasta in Italy's piazzas on Thursday to help relieve the Italians who decide to strike.

Italian farm producers' federation Coldiretti could be seen preparing to distribute snacks in Rome's parliament square on Thursday morning.

"Maybe just a strike will not be sufficient, but it's a start to raise awareness into people and politicians above all, on a problem that concerns everybody," said protester, Francesca.

Worldwide producers such as De Cecco which sells pasta in more than 80 countries expect little fluctuation in their market overall as a result of the price increases and even less impact from the strike, noting that consumers tend to buy their pasta two to three kilos (four to five pounds) at a time.