Inflation was contained in 2021. The prices of fruit and vegetables, they jumped 9% in two years, from September 2019 to September 2021, observed, Friday January 21, the consumer association Rural families, which publishes an annual observatory of the prices of everyday consumer goods.
With this increase of nearly 10%, “it is not surprising to see some consumers turning away from it, especially those with small budgets”, regrets the association, which is asking for the establishment of a fruit and vegetable voucher in 2022, “so as not to divert families with the most modest budgets from these healthy foods”.
Rural families has also calculated that eating in accordance with the recommendations of the national health nutrition plan costs, for a family of four (two adults, a teenager and a child) between 450 euros, varying the products less but respecting the diversity of categories and seasonality, and 1,148 euros for a family “organic enthusiast”. This is the overall monthly budget for feeding a family.
“At this price, all-organic products are far from affordable”, comments Rural Families, which, “to reassure families”, reminds that, “to stay healthy, the main thing is to eat enough fruit and vegetables, whether they are organic or not”.
The key to slowing down certain pathologies
Generally, “Rural families calls on the public authorities to develop a much more ambitious policy promoting healthy eating by allowing everyone to have access to it”. She believes that“Investing in a nutritional program combining prevention and help for the most precarious is the key to curbing the development of too many pathologies linked to the consumption of products that are too fatty, too sweet, too salty in too large quantities”.
The association further notes “the substantial price difference between the same basket of groceries acquired in mainland France and that purchased overseas”, price readings having been made on the same products as those made in mainland France in Reunion, Mayotte, Guadeloupe and Martinique. Verdict: “The same basket of products costs almost 50% more than in mainland France. »
The Rural Families survey was carried out over four periods – February, April, June and October 2021 -, in 148 stores (hypermarkets, supermarkets, predominantly own-brand brands such as hard-discounts, organic specialists), by a team of 107 “consumption watchdogs” in 37 departments.