The Prime Minister was served 24 different dishes during his
first day at the summit – just hours after urging the world to
reduce the "unnecessary demand" for food and calling on British
families to cut back on their wasteful use of food.
Mr Brown and his wife Sarah were among 15 guests at the
"blessings of the earth and the sea social dinner".
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The dinner consisted of 18 dishes in eight courses including
caviar, smoked salmon, Kyoto beef and a "G8 fantasy dessert".
The banquet was accompanied by five different wines from around
the world including champagne, a French Bourgogne and sake.
African leaders including the heads of Ethiopia, Tanzania and
Senegal who had taken part in talks during the day were not invited
to the function.
The dinner came just hours after a "working lunch" consisting of
six courses including white asparagus and truffle soup, crab and a
supreme of chicken.
The lavish dining arrangements – disclosed by the Japanese
Government which is hosting the summit in Hokkaido – come amid
growing concern over rising food prices triggered by a shortage of
many basic necessities.
On the flight to the summit, Mr Brown urged Britons to cut food
waste as part of a global drive to help avert the food crisis.
Opposition politicians and charities condemned the extravagant
meals.
Dominic Nutt, of Save the Children, said: "It is deeply
hypocritical that they should be lavishing course after course on
world leaders when there is a food crisis and millions cannot
afford a decent meal to eat.
"If the G8 wants to betray the hopes of a generation of
children, it is going the right way about it. The food crisis is an
emergency and the G8 must treat it as that."
Andrew Mitchell, the shadow International Development Secretary,
said: "The G8 have made a bad start to their summit, with excessive
cost and lavish consumption.
