House Food Cost Could Rise. Food at the House cafeterias may soon cost more because of the nationwide rising price of fuel and food.

[IMGCAP(1)]“Possible price increases are being reviewed at this time,” Jeff Ventura, spokesman for the Chief Administrative Officer, wrote in an e-mail. “However no decisions have been made and no dates for such potential increases have been determined.”

But a CAO press release did give one hint: A bottle of water now costing $1.25 could cost $1.50 — a 20 percent increase.

The news came out after the CAO’s office announced that, starting today, House staffers will only be able to buy biodegradable water bottles at the chamber’s cafeterias.

The cost of those bottles is $1.60, which is 35 cents more than a bottle now. But, a press release noted, only “$.10 more than a proposed price increase.”

The corn-based bottles are made at the Iowa-based company Naturally Iowa and filled with water from the Virginia-based Grand Springs. They replace Dasani water bottles.

The move is the latest effort to make the cafeterias more environmentally friendly. Already, Restaurant Associates — the company that runs the cafeterias — offers local food, biodegradable cups and corn-based utensils.

The cafeterias also have recycling bins for plastic water bottles. But Ventura said many of the more than 100,000 bottles sold every year never end up in recycling bins. Instead, staffers and tourists take them on the go, and many likely just throw them in the trash.

The corn-based bottles, even if thrown in the trash, will biodegrade much more quickly than their plastic counterparts. Or they can be thrown into compost receptacles for an even quicker breakdown.

The House won’t have to pay Restaurant Associates for the change, Ventura said.

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