LA Times Shortchanges Readers With Deficient Explanation for Rising Food Prices

Jim Naureckas

LA Times columnist Steve Lopez (3/10/24) offers, as an example of "fighting inflation," a woman for whom cereal "has replaced meat for her at lunch and dinner."

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez (3/10/24) had some tips for elders dealing with high prices for food—one of which was featured in the headline:

Cereal for Dinner? It’s One Way to Beat Supermarket Inflation

Despite cereal being offered as a cost-saving way to eat, Lopez didn't mention that leading cereal maker Kellogg's has been singled out for price-gouging—raising its price per unit 17% in 2023, far above the inflation rate, thereby boosting the company's profits in 2023 by a whopping 540% (Quartz, 2/27/24).

But "profits" is a word you won't find in Lopez's column. Corporate greed (FAIR.org, 4/21/22, 6/1/23; CounterSpin, 2/9/24) is conspicuously missing from his list of reasons that prices go up:

Inflation is tied to rising labor costs, continued post-pandemic supply chain interruptions, avian flu and the impact of extreme weather—heat waves, wildfires and flooding—on global food production.

Rather than suggesting that consumers fill up on excess profits, Lopez could have encouraged his readers to participate in the upcoming three-month boycott of Kellogg's products—organized under the hashtag #LetThemEatCereal (Salon, 3/10/24).

ACTION ALERT: The LA Times' Steve Lopez can be reached at [email protected]. Please remember that respectful communication is the most effective. Feel free to leave a copy of your communication in the comments thread.

FEATURED IMAGE: Creative Commons photo by Like the Grand Canyon.