With the current price increases, Italians are losing their appetite for their beloved pasta. The main reason is the rising prices for pasta. In 2022, these increased by 17 percent to a maximum of three euros per kilo – a record! Already in April there were protests because of rising prices in the country, where 23.5 kilos of pasta are eaten per person per year – this is also a record.
The Italian government has now turned to the authority responsible for monitoring prices. It aims to bring pasta manufacturers and consumer protection groups together to investigate why prices have risen so much recently.
Agricultural association Coldiretti has complained about speculation about wheat prices. Farmers are paid only 36 cents for a kilo of wheat, while the price of pasta has doubled due to inflation.
Association defends itself against accusations: No price increase
The association of pasta producers, Riccardo Felicetti, rejected the accusation of artificially inflating the price of pasta. “The price of wheat fluctuates and it is not the pasta industry but the world market that determines this price,” says Felicetti. The pasta sold in supermarkets was produced months ago when energy costs peaked.
The consumer association Assoutenti demands that the price development of the pasta is closely monitored. The increase in the price of pasta cannot be explained by the price development on the international wheat market, according to the ministry.
800 million euros more spent on pasta
In 2022, Italian families spent almost 800 million euros more on pasta than in the previous year. The reason for this is record price increases due to the war in Ukraine, which burden citizens and harm farmers, according to an analysis by the agricultural association Coldiretti.
Source: Krone
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