Italian consumer associations have called on Italians to boycott pasta in their menus on Thursday in protest against the rising prices of this and other essential food products.
The protest, dubbed "One Day Without Pasta," against the price increase of pasta, averaging 20 cents per kilogram, has been supported by all consumer protection associations (Adoc, Adusbef, Codacons, and Federconsumatori), urging Italians not to buy pasta for the entire day, as well as all flour-based products, including bread and pastries. The president of the Adoc association, Carlo Pileri, states that the price of bread has increased by 750 percent from 1985 to today, while the price of wheat has fallen by one cent and now stands at 22 cents per kilogram. Thus, the price of pasta and bread is skyrocketing in the chain from producer to consumer, while the purchase price is even lower.
The price of flour has risen by 10-13 percent, which does not justify the increase in the price of bread by as much as 50 percent. The Italian government responded to the protests of consumer associations by calling on companies involved in the distribution chain to grocery stores not to raise prices. At the same time, financial watchdogs will monitor prices in stores. Italian consumer associations are also seeking intervention from Brussels, requesting the European Union’s approval to allow the planting of wheat on an additional three million hectares, thereby increasing the areas currently designated by European standards for wheat production. (H)
