2024-02-10 13:49:43
Foodwatch, this consumer defense association, has put the food industry in the spotlight, pointing out six products from major brands whose composition has been altered while prices have increased due to inflation. Indeed, it is a practice, called “cheapflation”, which consists of reducing ingredients, removing them or replacing them with cheaper or lower quality substitutes.
The increase in prices would not be linked only to inflation
Contrary to popular belief, the prices of certain foods would not increase tenfold due to inflation. But this is a phenomenon that started long before. According to the association, this would have already started in 2016. “We have identified examples dating back as far as 2016, well before the start of the rise in food prices.
The phenomenon is therefore not recent, but inflation might have encouraged manufacturers to resort to these practices,” explained Foodwatch on its website, as part of an investigation carried out with the program “France, grand format ” on the France 2 channel.
Among these products that it detected, we can cite Fleury Michon surimi sticks, which include 11% less fish flesh, knowing that their price has increased by 40% between 2021 and 2023. We also have Maille mayonnaise (Unilever group brand), Milka chocolate (Mondelez), Bordeau Chesnel rillettes, After Eight chocolates (Nestlé) or fish from the Findus brand (Nomad Foods).
Companies justify by the rise in raw material prices
Product prices have increased and producers blame this increase on the inflation that has recently affected France. But this is not the opinion of this association. “We have challenged manufacturers who generally justify these changes by an increase in the price of raw materials during periods of inflation.
For Foodwatch, this in no way excuses the opacity regarding changes in recipe or format, nor the rise in prices which is correlated with it,” declares the association. You should know that following having reached a peak of almost 16% in spring 2023, food prices, which were the main driver of inflation, began to slow down, recording an increase of 5.7% year-on-year in January 2024.
What you need to understand is that the prices displayed on certain products are not the product of inflation. And as Bercy announced on France 2, good news is coming in the coming months. “A quarter of the prices were going to fall on pasta, on oils, on coffee, in the coming weeks, perhaps in the coming months, we will be below 2%,” he declares.
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