{
  "id": 9143275,
  "title": "Five foods that could cost even more this winter—and why",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/five-foods-that-could-cost-even-more-this-winter-and-why",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-22T12:40:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-foods-winter.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "This article discusses the potential rising costs of five common foods this winter due to various pressures on food production. These pressures include erratic weather patterns, climate change, and international conflicts.\n\nThe first food mentioned is chocolate, a comfort food enjoyed by nearly 6 million smallholder farmers worldwide. Cocoa trees, which require manual labor to harvest, are sensitive to environmental factors such as drought and heavy rainfall. The ongoing El Niño phenomenon is expected to exacerbate these issues, leading to reduced yields and higher cocoa prices. This could result in chocolate bars costing more than 60% more than they did in 2021, with prices expected to rise again as supply chains are affected. Manufacturers may also opt for cheaper alternatives to cocoa butter, altering the texture and mouthfeel of chocolate products.\n\nPotatoes, a staple food in European diets, are also facing challenges this winter. Drought conditions have significantly reduced UK potato harvests by approximately 5 kg per person. As demand for potatoes remains relatively steady, this supply shortage will likely lead to price increases. Shoppers may turn to alternative starch sources such as oats, barley, beans, or lentils.\n\nLeafy greens like spinach and lettuce are particularly vulnerable to heat stress and water scarcity. Their yields have already suffered due to high temperatures and drought, leading to potential supply constraints. Retailers may need to import these items from other countries, such as Spain, to meet demand.\n\nWheat is another arable crop affected by the prolonged summer drought in the UK. Wheat yields have fallen significantly below recent averages, contributing to higher bread prices. Energy prices and other overheads also play a role in bread production costs, further impacting the final price consumers pay.\n\nFinally, olive oil, known for its health benefits, is expected to rise in price due to droughts and wildfires in important olive-growing regions. While recent price drops have occurred, the situation is likely to change as water availability and temperature extremes continue to impact olive yields in Spain and other Mediterranean countries. This nutritional dilemma highlights the potential shift in olive oil consumption patterns as consumers seek more affordable alternatives.",
  "summary": "A number of pressures have converged on food production over the past year, and their effects are likely to show up in our shopping carts this winter. Farmers have faced increasingly erratic weather, influenced by climate change and the El Niño phenomenon, while international conflicts have pushed up the cost of fuel, fertilizer and other essential inputs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}