Versión Español
EspañolThe Argentinean government extended its Price Control Program that includes 117 new products for an average increase of 2.49 percent.
This program, which was created during Cristina Kirchner’s administration, will start on Wednesday, September 7 and run through January 6, 2017.
Under the new conditions, the list will have 350 products found in 2,250 supermarkets across the country.
The government reportedly does not want to renew the program next year, but everything depends on inflation
Fruits and vegetables (potatoes, onions, lettuce, carrot and apple) remain on the list, the most popular cuts in Argentinean beef, fresh bread and dairy products (fluid milk powder, cheese, yogurt, spreads, desserts).
Sugar will reportedly rise 10 percent and rice, 8.9 percent. Among new products on the list are soft drinks like Coca-Cola Zero, Sprite Zero, Fanta and Schweppes Grapefruit Zero. The list no longer includes regular Coca-Cola.
“We will continue the Price Control Program to accompany families,” Assistant Secretary of Domestic Trade Javier Tizado said, “and we added more healthy foods to improve access to adequate food. In addition, we continue enhancing the Internet information price system for consumers that want to compare and make better choices.”
Forty percent of the 82 vendors participating in the program are SMEs. According Tizado, this allows SMEs to “give their products greater visibility and increase their competitiveness against big players.”
The new price list was created with the help of nurtionist Alberto Cormillot, Coordinator of the National Program for Healthy Eating and Obesity Prevention at the Ministry of Health.
Cormillot recommended the inclusion of healthier products such as light, low-fat, zero-percent sodium, as well as seeds, cereals, and canned drinks without added sugar. However, his participation in the preparation of the list was the target of strong criticism after La Nacion revealed Wednesday that several new healthy products are Cormillot’s brand, a company that belonged to the official.
In response, the government withdrew some products from the list.
Cormillot justified himself by saying that he is no longer part of the company that bears his name, having sold it four years ago when he learned he was suffering a serious illness.
Source: La Nación.
