Most contentious was this study
Dollar, David & Kraay, Aart, 2002. " Growth Is Good for the Poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 7(3), pages 195-225, September. [Downloadable! ...When average income rises, the average incomes of the poorest fifth of society rise proportionately. This is a consequence of the strong empirical regularity that the share of income accruing to the bottom quintile does not vary systematically with average income.
Empirically unfounded. Methodologically weak, and I think if you exclude China, the results will go in the opposite direction as well. It had taken little amounts from speculative institutional investors in a a relatively small commodity market to drive food prices up and worsen the lot of the poor.
Another point to consider is the difference between food importing and food producing countries. In India a cereal meal containing 1000 calories would cost a quarter of what it would cost in a developing food import dependent country.