The number declined to 70 million in 2006 from 105 million in 2002 and is predicted to drop even more, said Thomas Melito of the Government Accountability Office.

“In a situation where there are 850 million hungry people in the world and the program was only providing enough for 70 million people in 2006, the new totals will be even lower,” said Melito, who called the escalating costs of food aid "frightening."

The soaring food prices have been driven in part by demand for ethanol made from corn, which has increased the price of soybeans as land planted with soybeans shifted to corn, The Times reported Saturday.

U.S. wheat prices also have risen dramatically in large part because of crop failure brought on by drought in Australia, a major producer of wheat.