‘Inform public of below-cost goods’

Consumers should know if the food they are buying is being sold below the production cost, according to environmental body An Taisce.

An Taisce has submitted a proposal to the Government that would require the country’s five biggest retailers to display the amount they pay to farmers for certain foods — the “primary produce amount” — alongside the sales price in an attempt to battle below-cost selling.

An Taisce’s policy director, James Nix, said the practice of below-cost selling is putting Ireland’s whole food sector at risk.

“The Government has the opportunity to aid informed choice. And ensuring the primary produce amount is displayed alongside the sales price is a clear and tangible step that ministers can take regarding the below-cost selling which is endangering Ireland’s horticulture sector,” he said.

Previously, the practice of below-cost selling was welcomed as it was seen to benefit hard-pressed consumers. The National Consumer Agency welcomed below-cost selling, suggesting it was “good for the consumer”.

However, An Taisce says these comments indicated a lack of awareness of the risks of concentrating market share around fewer and fewer grocery retailers.

An Taisce is recommending that Tesco, SuperValu/Centra, Dunnes, Aldi and Lidl display the production cost on a list of basic foods such as carrots, onion, potatoes, sprouts alongside the retail cost.

“The costs are already being incurred by farmers, and consumers know the longer-term risks of inaction.

“The question now is whether Government is prepared to take simple steps to empower consumers to make informed choices?” Mr Nix said.