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Consumers are reducing their purchases of fish, meat, olive oil, fruit and vegetables due to the sharp increase in food prices, according to a survey carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU). Specifically, the increase in food prices over the last year is already 10.5% and 24.3% if the last 24 months are added together. This has led consumers to stop buying the foods whose prices have risen the most, and the OCU has also warned of the danger of substituting some of these foods for processed products, which are cheaper but not very healthy.
Thus, among the foods most penalised by consumers as a result of cumulative inflation, fish, meat and olive oil stand out. As for the purchase of fish, this has decreased to a greater or lesser extent for 60% of those surveyed, followed by meat (54%) and olive oil (53%).
In addition, 50% and 45% of those surveyed recognise that they have had to reduce their purchases of fresh fruit and vegetables to a greater or lesser extent, while 30% recognise that they have also reduced their purchases of dairy products. The survey reveals a diversion of consumption towards other foods in order to make the shopping basket cheaper, as 21% of those surveyed acknowledge.
In this way, the OCU recommends consumers to look for cheap varieties and seasonal products. It also encourages buying frozen food, as frozen vegetables are 44% cheaper than fresh ones, and to look for private labels and products on offer due to their early expiry date.
However, the consumer organisation has once again insisted that the current government should “urgently and substantially” increase the amount of the 200 euro cheque for families with incomes of less than 27,000 euros, as well as the number of beneficiaries, while increasing the income limits. In addition, to consider applying 0% VAT should also be applied to meat and fish to facilitate the purchase of quality animal protein.