World food prices rose to a record high in January, according to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation.
The organisation's food price index rose for the seventh consecutive month, rising 3.4% from December.
The agency warns high prices are likely to persist in the months to come.
The index is now higher than June 2008 when the cost of food sparked violent protests in countries including Cameroon, Haiti and Egypt.
The BBC reports the index reflects rises in the price of wheat and grain.
Rice prices fell slightly as the data coincided with harvests in many countries.
Rises were particularly high for dairy products, up 6.2% from December.
Commodities prices have been on the rise generally with copper hitting a record high of $10,000 per tonne.
Oil was also up on Thursday with Brent crude rising to $US103.37 per barrel.
