As a New Yorker who has to endure the onslaught of arrogant, above-the-law UN diplomats every September, I would celebrate endlessly to see the UN abandon its "missions" and either just call it a day, or reassemble somewhere in Continental Europe or Asia. I'm with the majority - "UN: please leave!"

Jason Schlossberg, New York, USA

At least this conference will give a few tin pot 3rd world despots the chance to rattle their begging bowls at the western world so that they can replenish their Swiss bank accounts and build themselves a few more palaces.

P Smith, Luton, UK

Now that the lavish menu has been revised it's time to do something about the obscene amount spent on accommodation, travel, entertainment and the list goes on - it's revolting to to such intelligent people act so mindlessly.

Claire, Brisbane,

I think the idea that Robert Mugabe would be welcome at a UN conference on food is completely obscene and undermines the credibility of the United Nations.

Lyle Craver, Vancouver, BC, Canada

I would be more inclined to not think of the UN as the "useless nations" if these well-fed delegates immediately went to work in the fields to help grow the food the starving so desperately need.

Allen, Calgary, Canada

Do you people realize that over 500 BILLION dollars in over the past 35 years is completely unaccounted for? This is money that came form, the UN, Europe, and others, but mostly the USA. This is money that was taken out of your pockets in the form of taxes and sent to dictators who lived lavishly

David, Tampa, FL, USA

I dunno about them but tonight I'm feeding my family refried beans from a can, tortillas and salad.

mauricio, ely, USA

It would not really be out of place to ask how many starving people could have been given a nourishing meal with the money wasted on this gathering. I would guess many thousands.

Chris, boca raton, usa

The USA started the UN and its worthless brother before it. So for our partnership with Europe has cost us in WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam, Lebenon, Gulf War1, Oil for food, raping in africa and on and on and at what cost? Usually the USA has to do the dirty work then get smeared by our friends-the UN.

William, Atlanta, USA

We do not need to send money and food. We need to force them to be free societies where people can pick themsleves up, dictators have to go. We have to stop paying the poor & open up free trade. We also need to stop with bed nets and use DDT, which is COMPLETELY safe in the proper dosages.

David, Tampa, FL, USA

Classic UN Learjet liberals

Brent, Houston, United States

Most people in America are right where they deserve to be due to the decisions they make on a daily basis. It is a farce to say its anyone elses fault for their live's situations! Rich people are rich because they make good decisions. I will be rich one day because I try. Long live America!

Corey Bresalier, gainesville, usa

I'll agree to spend BILLIONS to help the hungry the moment that they can Guarantee me that they won't produce an extra billion more people I have to help again tomorrow.

Chris, Gahanna,

UN is a useful organization if you like to talk, but useless when it comes to action. I would be much more inclined to think the UN didn't stand for "Useless Nations" if these well-fed delegates were shown working the fields to actually grow some food.

Allen, Calgary, Canada

So Dave, all the worlds food problems are caused by America. None of the 3rd world countries have any blame for there own people starving.

CCL

Curt louis, phoenix, U.S.

Most of the US comments here are embarrassing. Please quit while you're ahead. This meeting has been blown way out of proportion and is only getting this traffic due to Drudge.

What of the homeless & hungry in your own town - they are there. What are YOU doing to help, if you are so mad at this?

Maria, New Haven, CT, USA

Read your Orwell, people. This is straight out of "Animal Farm".
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

Roger Fishwife, Austin, TX, USA

Periodically one meets the foreign staff who work at the UN here in New York. Most, but not all, are elites living privileged lives -- especially those in the diplomatic corps of Europe. It amuses me to compare their comments and lifestyles with the perceptions of European friends in Europe.

Joe, New York City, US

neither menu sounds particularly interesting...

b, NYC, USA

Ralph, I agree they are world 'leaders', but that does NOT entitle them to a pass when the world is starving...even if it's due to America's foolish bio-fuel plan. A real leader suffers and sympathizes with their people....in my opinion.

Dave, Huachuca City, AZ, United States

What they should be calling for is a significant population reduction by 3rd world nations. We are forever bailing these countries out, usually out of trouble caused by which ever tyrant is ruling them at the time. This has got to stop.

Dr Nick Ashley, Huntingdon, England

Just a Chef James? Too bad you couldn't be the President. It's ironic how backwards the world is - when "leaders" are anything but, and words of a real leader come from a Chef.
I seriously doubt you'll have to be doing any dishes.

chris, New York City, USA

Oh come on guys, don't be silly and ridiculous. These people are world leaders and they should be treated as such....specials befitting their callings. You're carrying this to an extreme, don't be a hypocrite, wake up and smell the roses.

ralph Ngok, Vallejo, Ca, California

2billion in 2000,3.5 in 1968.6 in 2000.7plus now.Of the 3.5 billion 300in Europe200in Russia200in USAand 1bilion in China have scarcely changed, so the other 1.8billion have more than doubled. One half restrictsgrowth as it get wealthier
The other doubles as it eats more.It will never escape povert

ged, manchester,

My goodness - my American friends: your hatred of the UN, the ignorance of your statements...

Luke, Geneva, Switzerland

I do not think that the menu is the only problem but lets check if there are any 'party bags' being given out to these horrible people.
Africa has many Presidents on whom it can rely to destroy the people, particularly Presidents Mbeki and Mugabe.

S. James, Oxford, UK

What do you want some of the most powerful people in the world to eat, beans on toast?
The simple fact they have held the meeting in the first place shows a willingness to aid.
Grow up, i'm sure all the moaners on here go to extremes to reduce world poverty. No? You're kidding.....

Will Teasdale, Manchester, England

They should be forced to enjoy the dirt cookies made by the women of Haiti who have nothing else to feed their families.

Jane, Morristown, NJ, USA

Amen to St. Louis!

Sharon, Santa Barbara , CA

Nuts, assorted greens and water for breakfast.

Bread, water, assorted greens, for lunch.

Water, tea, bread, greens, nuts and chicken for dinner.

And I'm being damn generous! Work for the UN then EAT without being ostentatious.

Mike Maze, San Francisco, USA

I'm a Chef.
I'm so priveleged to work with the bounty of all that is available to me. I thank the universe that I am fortunate enough to do what is allowed to me of which is my reality of serving people.
I hope that my service allows me to do all the dishes in heaven for those who deserve a meal!

James, Yorba Linda, CA

How about Bread & Water for Robert Mugabe, he may as well get use to it if he gets voted out
The rest could manage on Beans on Toast, with Tea/Coffee, no milk or sugar.
I Feel our colective elected leadership are failing to understand the situation faced by a number of countries around the world.

John Fenech, Sydney, Australia

Yes, they should make up a nice meatloaf stuffed full of their worthless reports to end world hunger.

kc, Tacoma, US

These petty tyrants have no desire to end world hunger and no central government organization can accomplish such a feat. What determines whether a society has food (and everything else for that matter) is how much individual liberty its population has. Free people provide for themselves.

Pliny, St. Louis, United States

Thankfully, the Lord does not favor those that live in castles, ride in chariots, or dine like kings.

Chip Anderson, SoCal, CA

I hope Mugabe chokes on his fruit salad and vanilla ice cream

Peter, Brisbane, Australia

Wow! A meet, greet and eat to discuss global hunger and starvation! The only thing delicious here is the irony

William Bedloe, Washington DC,

The UN...what a joke...just visit Paris or London on a good day and watch the dictators filling multiple airport vans with their booty headed out to Orly or Heathrow, along with the entourages and female companions (sic). That's where your food money and generous contributions are going.....

DS, Knoxville, USA

The 2002 menu sounded much better. Yum I'm hungry now!

Danny, Johnston, Iowa

Me hungry! Me like 2002 menu better! Me thinks Me wants COOKIES! Me want to join UN!

Danny, Johnston, Iowa USA

Have these people never heard of pot roast with vegetables cooked together? What a joke. The whole lot should be ashamed.

jeannine, St. Joseph, USA

If you want to help world hunger, please check out Lutheran world Relief- http://www.lwr.org.

Rosa, Midwest, US

Again, ...our Tax dollars at "work" via the worthless UN....
Nothing ever changes. Get US OUT of the UN, now!
All of em reek of hypocisy, and most were never elected to their positions of Power.

steve, Stockton, USA

A meet, greet and eat to discuss starvation? Oh how delicious is the irony!

William Bedloe, Washington DC,

What a joke. One knows darn well they are leaving that food for the idots among them, and going out for a good steak dinner down the street.

Dick Sicario, Las Vegas, NV., USA

for those fools that say the UN is not good at anything, i would most strongly disagree...

they are excellent at hating America.

tormino, paris, france

Africa is doomed and destined to remain the continent of AIDs, human suffering, starvation and genocide.

GL, Bellevue,

did you expect a humble U.N.?

jimmy L, jonesboro,

When has the UN ever done anything to serve anyone's interest other than the G8 nations? it s a worthless old boys club and more of a gravy train than the EU. Always in too late and only in when it smells of oil, overpaid and overfed, disband this outdated network of posturing cronies.

patrick, The Hague, Netherlands

The UN is a joke. Hypocrisy among their numbers shouldn't come as a surprise.

Mikel, Fort Worth,

How on Earth can they sit there making monstrous jaw jaw, when the very reason Zimbabwe is on the brink of collapse sits amongst them scoffing their supposedly toned down menu?

Their inaction in determining the fate of this former bread basket of Africa is an utter disgrace.

Peter Harrington, London, UK

Italy destroys millions of tons of oranges deliberately every year to artificially keep retail prices high. Hypocrites, stink to high heaven

Orlando Mayo, Jaen, Espana

Why didn't they hold the meeting in Zimbabwe so they could all see what Mugabi has allowed to happen to his country, and how most of the population are starving.

liz, Fort Myers, USA

"At the last summit in 2002 we did not give enough thought to the menu and were open - unfairly, in our view - to the charge of hypocrisy." Never underestimate the power of denial. Of course they were hyprocrits. It's beyond silly to suggest anything else. The UN is full of hypocrits!

Sonya B., Raleigh, NC, USA

Set them down for a month in say...Darfur...maybe Somalia..Let them dine on what the masses there have everyday for the whole time and let's see if they canreally do anything about the starving.

Jerry, Lubbock, Texas

Here's a thought, let them eat the same 'Air Dropped' corn, wheat, and rice the send to starving Africa. Drop a couple of 20 kilo sacks of the stuff on the ground like the UN does and leave them to fend for themselves. Give them a glass of powered milk made with trench water to wash it down.

Edward, Ohio, USA

What, they're not eating any insects? According to the enviro-nuts, this is the most enviro-friendly food. And it costs nothing but the effort to net the little buggers.

Patrick C., Irvine, USA

How hypocritical for UN leaders to dictate agricultural policy to food producers, as if mere words could end starvation. It’s reminiscent of communism’s Five Year Plans or Great Leap Forward which only increased shortages. We provide while they increase suffering with their idiotic leadership.

Mike Cloud, Houston, TX, USA

Toned down? Give them simple tomato or olive oil pasta, maybe a sandwich or a bit of cake, and some fruit or yoghurt with honey, with a jug of iced water. That's still a bit advanced for me for a 'simple' lunch, but it sounds lovely...

Eleanor, Derbyshire,

they should hold the entire meeting in a place where people starves on the streets.
The menu is not an issue, this people is so privileged that they cannot have any idea of the real problems.
and last, people doesn't only starve in so called 3rd world. check out your own town.

francesco pirrone, london, uk

What, no "high energy biscuits"?

Matt, Kensington, USA

They could have eaten Mugabe!

Albert, Montreal, Canada

How about Kentucky Fried Chicken topped with mashed potatroes and gravy and a side of cornbreads at the next summit? then, contribute the savings to the starving kids in the most poverish of nations.

jim, Salem, usa

Has anyone noticed that those countries where people are starving are ruled by dictators? Could there be a correlation here? The food is available its that the dictators don't want to buy it from those countries that produce it. Look at Myramar. A US warship was standing buy with food they refused.

Tom , University Place, U.S.A.

Amen to Chris in Georgia.

Ryan, Hudson, OH

Let them eat cake!

bob greenwood, Chicago,

Cornbread and turnip greens are to good for them.

Pete, Palestine, U.S. of A.

The left wont be happy until everyone (else) is equally miserable.

Themselves excluded, of course.

Patrick Henry, Bristol,

I'' dsay let them eat each other!

Richard, Buckhead, USA

Banning consumption of certain foods is rediculous. I love all foods including foie gras, veal. If we want to solve world hunger we should stop over populating the world.

Clifford, NYC, USA

If they are truely interested in reducing poverty, they should be encouraging free markets and capitalism.

Chris, GA, USA

Linda, the best mozzarella cheese is always made from buffalo. Sure, you won't find it at most common supermarkets, but then again you won't find most decent gourmet items at a supermarket. Try shopping at delis or even Whole Foods. It's really not that rare at all...just "shop outside the box".

Pedro, San Diego, USA

The Unted Nations is a despicable organization and has been for many years.

Sean, Forest City, USA

The food served is local to the area where the mtg was held, & typical fare. Maybe fresh mozzarella is fancy in the US Midwest, but it's common here at the local market. We eat it often and it's cheap. I'd rather hear what actions and results will come from the mtg more than what they ate.

Maria, New Haven, CT, USA

Why feed them at all? Remind them what a hunger pang feels like, let alone a bloating stomach.

Mark, Los Angeles, USA

It is disgusting that they would eat veal.

Frances Moore Lappe was right. The world needs to switch to a vegetarian diet. Furthermore Monsanto should be stopped on a worldwide level from producing any more of their rotten genetically modified seeds.

These world leaders are ignorant fools.

Abbybwood, Westhampton Beach, United States

I'm sure that those starving in Africa will feel heartened that the attendees feel their pain while dining on such meager fare as shrimp and veal. The fact that they consider this "modest" really shows just how out of touch the "leaders" are.

ljheidel, Brooklyn, NY, US

The goal of these ploliticians is not to solve any problems, but rather to be in power so they can eat and live well while deflecting from thier own greed by accusing wealthy nations of being the same.

Mike, Milwaukee, USA

the way they get fois gras is disgusting, animal rights should boycott, also veal is produced by cruielty to calves.

P. Simmons, Columbus,

The best way to stop world hunger is for everyone to give up eating meat and dairy products. If everyone was a vegan then there would be more than enough food for the entire world because all of the grains won't be used to feed the livestock. But you never hear veganism is the best solution....

D, Ann Arbor, MI, US

I find it revolting that at a summit focussed on food, world leaders would indulge in eating veal and last year, foie de gras - two foods that are produced using methods that involve unimaginable cruelty to animals. What are these people thinking? Or perhaps, they're not. Shame on them!

Bonnie MacLeod, Essex, USA

This is almost as bad as Al Gore preaching to us from his Learjet about our carbon footprint.

David, Boerne, USA

Sure reminds me of the decline of the Roman Empire!!

Ann, Guy, Canada

Do as we say, not as we do. Politicos everywhere are hypocrites.

V. McGonigle, Anderson, USA

Maybe if they were served the kind of "food" the starving people ate, they would work harder at the problem. I know they have high goals, but really, isn't this just a fancy getaway?

T, C., Marshall, USA

Wow eating just like us regular folks with their veal meatballs and pumpkin and shrimp pasta...

Frank, Hackensack, USA

Thozz, the poor in the world world would not have access 1 can of Campbells clam, followed by a nice sparkling glass on ice water (iced water!), and a few golden crispy soup crackers. These would be luxury items.

Seren, Watford,

Shut down the UN. They are worse than worthless.

Jon Fraud Carry, Washington, US

Maybe if they served them the kind of "food" that the starving people eat, they would see the problem for what it is and work harder at it. Their meeting seems to a fancy getaway for the rich.

T, C., Marshall, USA

This is how un-elected UN staffers live, on our checkbook!

eric, Jax,Fl,

Mozzarella cheese is not always made from buffalo milk! I doubt you can buy that kind most places in the USA at least.

Linda Arnold, Lake Placid, USA

I would have liked to have seen them fast for the duration of the conference. It would have given them a little empathy for the millions who endure this on a daily basis and help to concentrate their minds. I somehow think it would be beyond them!

Stevo, London, UK

Surely the sheer cost of the meeting could have been put to better use? They are all talk and no action. They don't want to solve anything, they just want to feel important.

Arthur, Newcastle,

People have to remember that the politicians arent supposed to be emulating the Third World Countries with Food shortages by eating bowls of rice and flat-breads.

Theyre members of a civilised world, and (arguably) work hard to make the world a better place, regardless of how effective they are.

Stuart Ross, Cheshire, United Kingdom

It is about time that elected officials have their personal assets frozen upon election and be paid, housed and get all the benefits equal to the median of their constituents. No perks what so ever. They will have incentive to take care of the people that elected them.
Elitist snobs.

Jubal, Los Alamos, NM, USA

Wow! that menu shows how out of touch the elites, and those who cater for the elites, are with the lower and middle classes world-wide.

Stuart, Fairfax, USA,

Is anyone really stupid enough to imagine that by dining on slightly less luxurious food they are in any way improving world food shortages?
I do not expect our highest politicians to eat gruel so why have the hypocrisy?
Give them back their foie gras and let them get on with it

Ken Chadwick, Chorley, United Kingdom

Hahaha! Toned it down? RIGHT.
My lunch today will consist of 1 can of Campbells clam chowder , followed by a nice sparkling glass of ice water and a few golden crispy soup crackers.
For dinner I'll have an egg sandwich and a can of greenbeans.

Live off that all you greedy politicians.

Thozz, Geneva, Ohio, USA

The menus are disgusting to me. Foie gras and veal. These people are not going to solve anything. Thinking they might is just dumb.

K, Greenwich, US

Let them eat cake!

Marie, Paris, France

wow
if that menu is 'toned down' they have no sense of reality!!!

CW , Bolivar , USA

Their toned down menu still sounds lavish to me. Especially in comparison to the sand and bugs that some unfortunate souls must consume to live.
Perhaps instead of worrying about being labeled hypocrites they should stop creating more hot air and actually fix the problems they vow to fix.

Caitlin, Philadelphia, USA

This summit is wasteful and meaningless. Not one starving individual in the countries these so-call leaders are from will be helped by this summit. With citizens around the world struggling these politicians are wasting taxpayer money with wasteful trips to wine and dine.

K Simms, Boston, US

The menus are hardly my idea of abstemious.

gerry, exeter, england

The countries that are having chronic food shortages, or where famine plagues are commonplace, these "food ambassadors" should have eaten what the local populace would eat when they get food rations from global relief agencies....this conference is for show and nothing will be accomplished as usual.

Steve, Bakersfield, USA