The United Nations measure of global food costs rose 1.2% last month.

The food industry has been hit by supply shortages, freight costs and staff shortages

A measure of global food prices climbed to a 10-year high last month, and the number on the food bill is likely to rise.

A food price index released by the United Nations on Thursday showed that food costs rose 1.2% in September and about 1/3 in the past year. Prices for almost all types of food have risen, staples such as vegetable oil are in short supply, demand for wheat remains strong, but harvests are affected by bad weather.

The problem is complicated by rising freight costs and a shortage of supply chain workers, leading to a shortage of goods on some supermarket shelves. Although it takes time for goods to hit grocery stores, consumers around the world have been hit by rising prices, adding to inflationary pressures and prompting governments to find solutions to control costs.

"among major grains, wheat will be the focus in the coming weeks as demand will be tested by rapidly rising prices," Abdolreza Abbassian, a senior economist at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, said in a report.

Details of changes in food prices in September:

Led by wheat, cereals rose by 2%, and so did the price of rice.

Vegetable oil rose 1.7%, mainly due to strong demand for palm oil and concerns about a shortage of workers in Malaysia.

Prices of dairy products and sugar have risen, while meat has remained stable.