G8 says deeply concerned food price hikes

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TOYAKO, Japan, July 8 (Reuters) - The Group of Eight rich nations said on Tuesday they were "deeply concerned" that a steep rise in global food prices was threatening food security, which could push millions more people back into poverty.

In a G8 statement on global food security, the group also called for "countries with sufficient food stocks to make available a part of their surplus for countries in need, in times of significantly increasing prices and in a way not to distort trade". (Reporting by Yoko Nishikawa and Chisa Fujioka; Editing by Hugh Lawson)