题目选项分析

Escalating worldwide demand for corn is expected to cause the market price of corn to rise sharply and remain high. Although corn is extensively used as feed for livestock, livestock feed accounts for only a small fraction of the retail price of meat. Therefore, the increase in corn prices is very unlikely to produce any comparable long-term increase in the retail price of meat.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

【选项】The cost of shipping and handling meat has also risen sharply.