UK food prices rises are outstripping most of Europe

Details emerged as world leaders gathered in Rome on the eve of a UN summit aimed at tackling a global food shortage that has led to protests and violence on three continents.

According to EU figures, the annual increase in high street supermarket prices was 7.2 per cent in April.

Food prices are rising faster in many other parts of Europe

UK food price rises are in line with the average for the EU as a whole but they are considerably higher than those of our closest neighbours.

A £1 increase in the cost of a basket of groceries in France in the past year compares to a rise of £1.31 in Britain.

Supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons have said they are protecting shoppers from the worst effects of rising commodity prices.

However, the Daily Mail revealed yesterday that supermarkets and packers have taken the lion's share of the 47.4 per cent increase in the price of free-range eggs.

The cost of a dozen medium eggs has risen by 83p in a year  -  12p of which has gone to farmers and the remaining 71p to supermarkets and packers.

The British Retail Consortium, which speaks for the supermarkets, has insisted that food is cheaper in the UK than other parts of Europe.

The EU food figures, published by Eurostat, indicate the biggest increases in Britain are in the prices of oils and fats, where prices are up 15.8 per cent.

Eurostat says the general rate of inflation across the EU was 3.6 per cent in the 12 months to April.

The average increase in food prices was 7.1 per cent.

Across Eastern Europe food prices have also risen substantially. The lowest rate of increase  -  3.2 per cent  -  was in Portugal.

Charities attending the World Food Security and Climate Change summit in Rome have warned that continuing food-price increases could lead to disaster.

ActionAid said: 'The current food crisis amounts to a gross violation of human rights and could fuel a global catastrophe.'

The International Committee of the Red Cross said the crisis could exacerbate conflict in war zones.

Forty-four world leaders are expected at the three-day meeting, which was called last year by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation to talk about climate change and biofuels.

The rising cost of food will now take centre stage.