Food manufacturers promised Mexico's government on Wednesday they would freeze prices on more than 150 food products to help families cope with the rising cost of food, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

Mexico President Felipe Calderon said prices for goods including beans, canned tuna, fruit juices, coffee, ketchup and canned tomatoes will remain fixed until December 31, 2008, The AP reported. Calderon blamed rising food prices on surging global energy prices, food demand in China, and the use of corn for ethanol production.

Good intention, wrong method

Economist Glen Langan said he agreed with the need for food assistance for Mexico's poor, but disagreed with the mechanism.

"A more effective program would be a larger cash payment or food subsidy to citizens," Langan said. "The pricing mechanism should be kept in place, because it has many benefits. Cash payments or subsidies to poor residents are much more targeted and don't provide a benefit to those who don't need it. [Mexico President] Calderon did announce a monthly subsidy, 120 pesos [$11.60], but it isn't large enough."