Under a food security argument it is maintained that in certain cases domestic demand can be met by international supplies. White maize is an exception to this rule, especially when one considers that the majority of the South African population finds mixing unacceptable and that good quality white maize is unobtainable on the international market in adequate volumes and at acceptable prices. In addition, given the fact that South Africa is the world’s largest consumer of white maize and the importance of maize as a wage good, any large fluctuations in the domestic market should be cause for concern. Since unstable prices for important food staples such as maize, rice, and wheat, can have acute economic, social, and political consequences (Timmer 1995).