At the end of October, a program to support vulnerable segments of the population will be launched, implemented as part of the creation of a “food basket”. This is done in order to provide the population with essential products at lower prices.
It is likely that every 15 days the specific list will be updated to include different products, but always from the 31 categories agreed by the merchants and the ministry.
List in full:
- Rice long-grain type “Carolina”
- Bakery products:
- Bread for toast
- Loaf of bread
- toasts
- crackers
- Pasta – spaghetti №6
- Meat fish
- Pork packed
- Packaged poultry meat
- Sausages, chicken or turkey ham
- Chilled fish – in assortment (at least one product name), depending on the season
- Dairy:
- Fresh whole milk:
- Whole milk reduced fat <2%
- Canned or condensed milk
- Unflavored cow’s milk yogurt
- Unflavored cow’s milk yogurt (low fat <2%)
- Cheese for toast ((including feta, gouda, low-fat cheese))
- Other types of food
- canned tomato juice
- Eggs from poultry farms and small households
- Margarine, vegetable fats
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Sunflower oil
- Frozen vegetables: At least one type of frozen peas, okra, green beans
- white sugar
- Baby food (baby formula)
- Baby food (baby milk)
- Greek coffee, ground
- Instant coffee
- Coffee for coffee maker (Γαλλικός καφές)
- Black or herbal tea bags
- cocoa powder
- Bottled water:
- Mineral water still in bottles (500 ml or 1 l) Fruit juices – orange juice
- Soft drinks – at least one type of fizzy soft drink.
- Detergents and sanitary products:
- Disinfectants and antiseptics for hands
- Laundry detergents (liquid and powder, not tablets)
- Detergents for washing floors and cleaning surfaces – bleaches
- Dishwashing liquids for hand washing
- Kitchen paper towels (roll)
- Personal hygiene items:
- Toothpaste
- Toilet paper
- Napkins
- Tampons
- Shampoo
- Soap solid
- Adult diapers (for incontinence)
- Products for children:
- Baby diapers
- Personal hygiene items for babies (baby wet wipes)
- Personal hygiene items for babies (shampoo)
- Animal food:
- Dog food
- Cat food.
At the same time there was a lot of talk about foodstuffs – basically – that are not among those that will be included in the basket of a housewife. The answer has two different parts. One is “competition” and the other is “consumer preference”.
For example fresh fruits and vegetables are excluded from the list. The reason, according to Sotiris Anagostopoulos, Secretary General for Trade and Consumer Affairs, is that consumers can buy certain goods cheaper in city markets. “It is proposed that the consumer go there,” he commented in an interview with the TV channel. Accordingly, the same thing happens with unpackaged fresh meat (which is present in the “basket”, but as chilled and in the package).
According to the expert, “this would be unfair to butchers. And it also applies to legumes or flour, food products that are also sold in stores other than chain stores.”
The choice of spaghetti also raised questions (only #6 is present in the basket, despite the fact that there is a huge assortment and variations of pasta). Mr. Anagnostopoulos gave a specific answer. “Spaghetti No. 6 is the type of product that is consumed the most and has the highest demand among the population (as the study showed). We didn’t want to add to the cart a product that 2-3 competitors have,” he told ERT.
Regarding detergents (and whether dishwasher tablets are included in the basket), the Minister of Commerce responded negatively, stating that “liquid detergents” will become available to consumers. Premium products will not be included in the consumer basket.”
Products remaining outside the “home basket”:
- Legumes
- Flour
- Butter
- Veal
- Fresh fruits
- Vegetables
- Cereal flakes for breakfast
- Baby creams
- Spices.
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