Antonino Galofaro, edited by Julia Solans / Photo credit: Foodcollection GesmbH / foodcollection / foodcollection via AFP
France is far from the only country to suffer from soaring prices since the war in Ukraine. Its transalpine neighbor is one of the most affected and among the targeted foods is pasta. Heartbreaking for Italians who can’t imagine their daily life without this almost sacred food at home.
Not eating pasta in Italy is almost mission impossible. And yet, it is one of the products most affected by the rise in prices in the Alps, already victims of higher inflation than the rest of the European Union. While the Minister of Enterprise has promised measures to counter what he defines as “speculation”, Italians are not giving up on pasta, no matter the price. Europe 1 met Maria Luisa, a Milanese who remains faithful to the culinary tradition of her country.
“Duping” the consumer through “shrinkflation”
The problem is now only a question of price according to the Milanese. To hide global inflation, prices remain the same “with certain brands” but the quantities inside the packaging have fallen. A phenomenon called “shrinkflation” and has grown in recent years. A legal practice, but nevertheless immoral. Roberto Giordano, vice-president of the Consumer Defense Association, denounces this practice which aims to deceive the consumer in spite of himself.
“The consumer knows that a packet of pasta contains 500 grams of pasta. That said, if we introduce a packet of 450 grams at the same price, we will be fooled,” he says. Despite an increasingly exorbitant price, the Italians are determined not to ignore their favorite dish. Giorgia, sitting on the terrace in a Milanese restaurant, has finished her pasta and has no regrets. “I am ready to spend 20 to 30 cents more per pack than before”.
In one year, the price of pasta has increased by 17.5%, twice as much as the average consumer price inflation. The rise in prices rose to 8.2% over one year in April in Italy, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (Istat).