About The Tariff-Proof Kitchen
Last updated . We revise figures when USDA, BLS or tariff notices change.
Key facts
- The Tariff-Proof Kitchen is an independent US publisher, founded in 2026, covering grocery inflation and food tariffs; its author and editor is Rachel Whitfield.
- Price forecasts on the site are derived from the USDA Economic Research Service Food Price Outlook, BLS CPI data and published US tariff schedules, translated to item level by import share and historical pass-through.
- The Tariff Exposure Score (0-60) was created by The Tariff-Proof Kitchen in 2026 and is used in its calculator, cheat sheet and food index.
The Tariff-Proof Kitchen exists for one reason: American families are paying more for groceries in 2026 and most of the advice they get is either too vague ("shop smarter") or too extreme ("grow your own food"). We publish practical, number-backed guides and free tools that show exactly which items are rising, by how much, and what to buy instead.
Who writes this
How we research prices
Every forecast on this site starts from public sources: the USDA Economic Research Service food price outlook, Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI food data, and the published US tariff schedules and their effective dates. We translate category-level forecasts into item-level guidance by looking at where each food is actually sourced (import share by country) and how quickly past tariff changes reached shelf prices. Where we give a range, the low end assumes partial pass-through and the high end full pass-through.
Prices in articles are typical Walmart, Aldi and warehouse-club price points for a family of four; your store will differ, which is why the calculator asks for your own monthly spend.
The Tariff Exposure Score
The Tariff Exposure Score is a 0-60 rating of how vulnerable a household's shopping habits are to tariff-driven price increases. It is built from 12 grocery categories, each scored 0 (rarely bought), 3 (sometimes) or 5 (weekly). The categories are the ones with the largest documented 2026 increases and the highest import share. The score is a planning tool, not a financial forecast, and we update the category list as tariff schedules change.
How we work, and where AI fits
Rachel writes and maintains the guides, the calculator, the cheat sheet and the food index. For the Tariff & Price Watch section we use AI tools to gather the day's primary sources, pull the numbers and draft a first version; Rachel checks every figure against the source, edits the piece and decides whether it runs. Each brief lists its sources with dates. If a number on this site is wrong, the fix is one email away.
Editorial note: Tariff & Price Watch briefs are drafted with AI assistance from primary sources (BLS, USDA, EIA, White House, wire services) and checked by our editor before publication. Guides, tools and the food index are written and maintained by our editor.
Contact and corrections
Spotted a price that has moved or a source that has been updated? Email hello@tariffproofkitchen.com. We correct articles in place and note the update date at the top of each one.
Start with the free tools
Two minutes with the calculator tells you where your cart is exposed. The cheat sheet fits on the fridge. The full 90-day system is $7.99.