Sam's Club Joins Costco in Limiting Rice Purchases

Sam's Club joined Costco today in limiting how much rice customers can buy, Bloomberg reports. The restrictions by the nation's largest warehouse retail chains come with the price of rice at record highs around the world, which has spurred some to begin hoarding, Bloomberg notes. Sam's Club customers can buy no more than four bags per visit.

"The warehouse clubs are doing it to protect their business customers, like smaller restaurants, caterers, nursing homes, day-care centers,'' said one industry consultant, who predicted the limits would not be in effect for long. Meanwhile, China, Vietnam, India, and Egypt have curbed rice sales abroad to protect their own supplies, and Thailand may do the same. (More Costco stories.)