G8 says deeply concerned about food price hikes

TOYAKO, Japan (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)