Panic buying here does seem an odd response to food shortages in the third world. The most significant nutritional problem in this country, regardless of socio-economic status, is obesity. We have lots of cheap food, but not good food. Associated with that, we expend billions of dollars of disposable income on diet gimmicks, exercise equipment, bottled water (still more expensive than gasoline) and designer coffee-all triumphs of perceived need created by the marketing industry.