G-8 leaders gorged on eight-course dinner prior to food crisis talks

London, July 8 : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other Group of Eight Summit (G-8)leaders enjoyed a mind-boggling six-course lunch and an eight-course dinner in Toyako in northern Japan's Hokkaido City, even as the common man is grappling with a major food shortage crisis.

According to The Telegraph, Brown was served 24 different dishes during his first day at the summit, just hours after urging the world to reduce the "unnecessary demand" for food and calling on British families to cut back on their wasteful use of food.

Brown and his wife Sarah were among 15 guests at the "blessings of the earth and the sea social dinner".

The dinner consisted of 18 dishes in eight courses including caviar, smoked salmon, Kyoto beef and a "G8 fantasy dessert".

The banquet was accompanied by five different wines from around the world including champagne, a French Bourgogne and sake.

African leaders, including the heads of Ethiopia, Tanzania and Senegal, were not invited to the function.

The dinner came just hours after a "working lunch" consisting of six courses including white asparagus and truffle soup, crab and a supreme of chicken.

The lavish dining arrangements - disclosed by the Japanese Government which is hosting the summit in Hokkaido - come amid growing concern over rising food prices triggered by a shortage of many basic necessities.

Dominic Nutt, of Save the Children, said: "It is deeply hypocritical that they should be lavishing course after course on world leaders when there is a food crisis and millions cannot afford a decent meal to eat. If the G8 wants to betray the hopes of a generation of children, it is going the right way about it. The food crisis is an emergency and the G8 must treat it as that."

The Prime Minister's spokesman declined to comment on the menus.

ANI