[Iran Press TV Latest] World leaders have enjoyed a five-course meal on the eve of a G8 summit on tackling world food shortages, a menu released by a summit source showed. The leaders will be joined by representatives of African countries for Friday's session at the G8 summit focusing on food, security and development issues.
The British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said earlier this week, "A hunger emergency looms and the world must act."
However on Thursday night -- the night before the talks -- at a dinner hosted by the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, the leaders dined on a warm tomato salad with cheese followed by hand-made macaroni with ragu sauce, roast lamb with beans and summer truffles with eggplant, green beans and roast potatoes, cheese and a sweet pizza dessert made with almonds.
Meanwhile, on a separate menu prepared by two-star Michelin Chef Nico Romito, the leaders' partners were able to choose between four starters before lamb with warm potato salad for the main course and hot and cold chocolate with fennel for dessert.
Non-governmental organizations have been bitterly denouncing the current three-day G8 summit for the inadequate emphasis on African development.
Oxfam, an NGO lobbying at G8, said that Poverty and inequality are getting worse in the developing countries as a result of the global economic crisis. Poor families are eating less, being evicted from their homes, and having to pull children out of school.
All of this is exacerbated by the effects of high food prices, the failure of rich countries to deliver on their aid promises, and the growing harmful impact of climate change, Oxfam said.
