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Original poster

To be horrified at the price of food

408 replies

Thorts · 30/03/2024 13:37

Single pepper, now 60p - everywhere.
Apple juice - 99p everywhere for the cheap stuff

How are people supposed to eat fresh fruit and veg daily (and the right amount) with these prices?

If you were to look at processed food however; pack of ham 20p, custard creams 20p, garlic bread 35p.

You could get two of all the processed items mentioned for less price than one pepper and one carton of 1L value Apple juice.

Surely something needs to be done?

OP posts:
nadine90 · 30/03/2024 15:46

It’s crazy how fast food prices have risen. When my youngest was little and money was tight, 10 years ago, I could feed 2 adults and a toddler with £25 for a week. Healthy, from scratch meals. Now it’s £70 in Aldi plus extras from Asda. And I still end up skipping lunch or having toast during the week.

Lanterns12828 · 30/03/2024 15:45

Apple juice is not fresh fruit.

Kalevala · 30/03/2024 15:42

ConsuelaHammock · 30/03/2024 15:38

Food has been cheap in the UK for the last 30ish years. Compare the percentage of household income spent on food in eg 1980 to today. Why do you think you deserve to keep more of your wages but those growing and producing your food should have less??

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Yes, the margins on actual food are tiny. It can't cost less. High taxes on ultra processed food-like-shit ringfenced to subsidise actual food could work?

TheWayTheLightFalls · 30/03/2024 15:40

I think that even a few years ago you could buy, say, out of season veg and even though you’d be paying more it was affordable for many more people. Whereas now post Brexit, post Covid and in the midst of at least two major international conflicts which affect food supply- you can’t.

ConsuelaHammock · 30/03/2024 15:38

Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:07

I can afford it. I just think the prices are horrendously too high.

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Food has been cheap in the UK for the last 30ish years. Compare the percentage of household income spent on food in eg 1980 to today. Why do you think you deserve to keep more of your wages but those growing and producing your food should have less??

AutumnCrow · 30/03/2024 15:38

NoWordForFluffy · 30/03/2024 15:28

Wow. That must've been enormous as it's been on offer at £6.50 per kg this week.

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I'm pretty sure if it's 'higher welfare' it'll be between £15-20 per kilo. Waitrose currently have a third off, though. Duchy lamb stays at £20/k.

Theoldbird · 30/03/2024 15:36

FrenchBoule · 30/03/2024 14:05

What @SkyBloo said.

There’s too much UPF available and at absolutely stupid prices comparing to fresh food.

sadly, this. also it's more expensive to make a cake for example so more tempting to buy.

HoldingTheDoor · 30/03/2024 15:29

Suggest away but I’m not taking your advice.

I agree that rising food prices are a real concern for many but 60p for a pepper is not excessive and I eat a lot of peppers and regularly paid more than that for an individual pepper two years ago.

NoWordForFluffy · 30/03/2024 15:28

Aydel · 30/03/2024 15:10

I don’t live in U.K. but here for Easter. Horrified at £35 for a leg of lamb in Sainsburys.

Wow. That must've been enormous as it's been on offer at £6.50 per kg this week.

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/03/2024 15:25

I think it doesn’t matter, as we all understand that unhealthier food is much cheaper.

No it’s not, if you’re able to buy and cook seasonally. It is if your definition of healthy is strawberries 5 times a week.

Kalevala · 30/03/2024 15:24

Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:20

My point is that peppers shouldn’t be 60p. Not arguing on here about it. If anyone cares that much about anything in the post being misleading (which wasn’t deliberate) I suggest you either scroll on or find something better to do.

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Have you grown peppers? Even in Spain they'd need a heated polytunnel to grow to maturity in March. That costs money. In summer you'll probably be able to get a big bag of wonky ones and they will be cheaper that way.

KeinLiebeslied54321 · 30/03/2024 15:21

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/03/2024 15:19

40p. Like they were a year or two ago.

What are you able to buy at the same price it was 2 years ago. Producers need to cover their costs including increases in the minimum wage, energy costs etc. In the scheme of things 60p for a pepper is pretty good unless you’re eating half a dozen a week.

Peppers were not 40p two years ago, not where I live anyway - didn't you ever wonder just how they could be that cheap though?

Original poster
Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:20

HoldingTheDoor · 30/03/2024 15:19

It does matter when you’re blatantly exaggerating and talking nonsense. I got a whole duck from Tesco for 30p once in the reduced section .It doesn’t mean that’s what duck actually costs.

My point is that peppers shouldn’t be 60p. Not arguing on here about it. If anyone cares that much about anything in the post being misleading (which wasn’t deliberate) I suggest you either scroll on or find something better to do.

OP posts:
KeinLiebeslied54321 · 30/03/2024 15:20

Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:07

I can afford it. I just think the prices are horrendously too high.

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Prices are rising, the prices you chose are most definitely not 'horrendously too high'.

BeachBeerBbq · 30/03/2024 15:19

HoldingTheDoor · 30/03/2024 15:19

It does matter when you’re blatantly exaggerating and talking nonsense. I got a whole duck from Tesco for 30p once in the reduced section .It doesn’t mean that’s what duck actually costs.

😱 Well jel. I looove duck. This would be like second christmas

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/03/2024 15:19

40p. Like they were a year or two ago.

What are you able to buy at the same price it was 2 years ago. Producers need to cover their costs including increases in the minimum wage, energy costs etc. In the scheme of things 60p for a pepper is pretty good unless you’re eating half a dozen a week.

Original poster
Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:19

DaBlackCatsAreDaBestCats · 30/03/2024 15:18

£27 for organic lamb chops in Tesco last week. I shit you not (wasn’t planning on buying, just happened to see them) x

Wow 🤢

OP posts:
HoldingTheDoor · 30/03/2024 15:19

It does matter when you’re blatantly exaggerating and talking nonsense. I got a whole duck from Tesco for 30p once in the reduced section .It doesn’t mean that’s what duck actually costs.

DreamyCyanFinch · 30/03/2024 15:18

SkyBloo · 30/03/2024 13:59

Food has been really too cheap in the uk for a long time. Supermarket competition and power meant farmers being squeezed to the bone & consumers sold produce on absolutely wafer thin margins, in stores staffed by badly paid staff. If you went to a lot of parts of europe its been more expensive there for years. Also true of australia etc.

So - there was a reduction in people willing to produce the food in the uk (because they weren't paid enough). Less supply = higher prices.

Supermarket staff are having to be paid a bit more. Higher prices.

You still can buy a lot if you are on a budget but you don't get much choice & have to shop really carefully

I live in Germany and go to France often .Food has also increased here in price
I would say I am spending 50 percent more on my shopping per week.

DaBlackCatsAreDaBestCats · 30/03/2024 15:18

£27 for organic lamb chops in Tesco last week. I shit you not (wasn’t planning on buying, just happened to see them) x

Kalevala · 30/03/2024 15:17

Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:11

40p. Like they were a year or two ago.

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That's now likely less than what it costs to produce and sell.

Jellycatspyjamas · 30/03/2024 15:16

How are people supposed to eat fresh fruit and veg daily (and the right amount) with these prices?

Ive just spent £100 on food shopping. It includes soup ingredients, vegetables for a roast dinner, vegetables to include in a bolognaise, frozen fruit for smoothies and to top yoghurt, fresh apples, blueberries and bananas, frozen peas and broccoli. Plenty of fruit and vegetables along with milk, eggs, cheese etc. I don’t consider £100 a huge amount to feed 3 of us for a week with fresh, healthy food.

Original poster
Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:16

AutumnCrow · 30/03/2024 15:14

I accept you say it doesn't matter. I feel it does matter. It's got echoes of '20p Lee'.

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Come off it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:16

BMW6 · 30/03/2024 15:14

Because out of season vegetables that have to be imported or grown under cover here (at great expense) cost more and are gave a bad Carbon Footprint?

Why can wealthier people buy better quality clothes? Bigger houses in better locations? Nicer cars? Private schools?

No-one is restricted to only tinned fruit and veg, no matter how tight their budget. As has been pointed out, UK seasonal veg is cheap and very nutritional. No-one NEEDS to eat peppers in winter.

Wailing "Not Fair" is ridiculous and juvenile.

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Okay lovely. Have a good day

OP posts:
AutumnCrow · 30/03/2024 15:14

Thorts · 30/03/2024 15:12

The particular ham was reduced, but wasn’t much more full price. There’s always one trying to catch you out. I think it doesn’t matter, as we all understand that unhealthier food is much cheaper.

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I accept you say it doesn't matter. I feel it does matter. It's got echoes of '20p Lee'.

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