Bread Shortage Crisis Hits La Paz: High Flour Prices Leave Citizens Hungry

La Paz Bread Shortage Leaves Citizens Hungry La Paz, Bolivia – A significant bread shortage has hit La Paz, leaving many citizens struggling to find this staple food. The shortage, reported on May 29, 2025, is primarily due to the high cost of flour, impacting local bakeries and vendors. "No hay mucho pan porque no ha llegado harina," said one vendor, highlighting the lack of flour as the main cause. (There isn't much bread because the flour hasn't arrived.) Reporters from Red Uno visited markets in the Figueroa and Santa Cruz area, traditionally known for bread sales. They found many stalls with significantly reduced bread supplies, and some completely empty. The remaining bread was noticeably smaller than usual. "Los pancitos son más pequeños que antes," noted the reporter, comparing the current size of loaves to those sold previously. (The bread rolls are smaller than before.) Citizens interviewed expressed frustration and concern over the shortage, with one woman stating she had been searching for bread all day without success. The high cost of Argentinian flour, selling at 550 Bolivianos, is cited as a major factor driving up prices and limiting production. The situation underlines the vulnerability of communities reliant on affordable bread and exposes the economic pressures impacting local food supplies. The high cost of flour is not only affecting bread production but also impacting the livelihoods of vendors.